miversity  Oi 

ionnecticut 

libraries 


''^^3  ooosss" 


Id''-' 


HISTORY 


'iH 


< 


SIMSBURY,  GRANBY  AID  CAITOI, 


FROM    1642    TO  1S45. 


BY    NOAH    A.    PHELPS 


HARTFORD. 

PRESS  OF  CASE,  TIFFANY  AND  BURNHAM. 

Pearl  street,  comer  of  Trumbull. 
1845. 


,  ^  d^ 


i 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Cougrcso  in  the  v'^ar   1845, 

BY    NOAH    A.    PHELPS, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  author  of  this  Pamphlet,  having  for  his  own  amusement  and  edifica- 
tion, collected  from  the  Records  and  Files  in  the  State  Department,  at  Hart- 
ford, many  facts,  which  had  long  remained  in  obscurity,  relating  to  the  first 
settlement  of  Simsbury,  was  invited,  by  some  of  its  inhabitants,  to  deliver  an 
address,  at  that  place,  on  the  Early  History  of  the  town.     The  request  was 
complied  with  ;— when  another  was  made  through  a  committee,  Richard 
Bacox  and  Lancel  Foot  Esq'rs.,  that  the  history  be  continued  down  to  the 
present  time,  (including  that  of  the  two  towns  which  had  been  set  off"  from 
i'     isimsbury,)  and  that  it  be  published.     Being  a  native  of  the  town,  he  did  not 
Y^    feel  himself  at  liberty  to  refuse  the  request,  though  the  task,  he  well  knew, 
}^    would  bnbjecthim  to  much  trouble  and  inconvenience,  and  though  he  felt  an 
unwillingne^e  to  app^^''  before  the  public  in  the  ciiaiaotcr  of  an  author. 

The  work,  sueb  as  it  is,  is  submitted  to  the  public  in  the  confident  belief 
that  it  will  be  found  to  contain  useful  information  never  before  published,  and 
that  its  statements  can  be  relied  upon  as  correct.  No  pains  have  been  spared 
to  make  it  a  true  narrative.  The  materials  have  been  chiefly  obtained  from 
the  State  Records,  and  from  the  Town  Records  of  both  Simsbury  and  Wind- 
sor, from  which  every  thing  has  been  carefully  culled,  relating  to  the  early 
history  of  the  town,  which  was  deemed  worthy  of  preservation.  To  literary 
merit,  it  lays  no  claim.  Much  of  the  mattercontained  in  it,  was  prepared  in 
detached  parcels  as  the  subjects  occurred,  or  as  the  evidence  relating  to  them 
was  discovered,  and  the  several  parts  were  aftervvards  put  together  as  they 
best  could  be.  Utility  has  been  the  aim  of  the  author,  and  if  that  be  gained, 
he  will  be  satisfied  for  the  labor  bestowed  ;  the  amount  of  which,  few  but 
those  who  have  been  engaged  in  similar  undertakings,  can  justly  estimate. 

Some  apology  is  perhaps  due  for  omitting  many  incidents  of  Indian  warfare 
which  have  been  handed  down  by  tradition.     Some  of  these,  on  investigation, 
were  found  to  be  fabulous,  and  other  portions,  to  rest  on  testimony  too  weak 
or  uncertain  to  authorise  their  insertion.     But,  out  of  this  mass  of  matter 
■'i       every  thing  has  been  retained  which,  after  a  careful  scrutiny,  was  in  the 
opinion  of  the  author,  entitled  to  credit.     And  if,  by  this  process,  a  few  grains 
of  wheat  have  been  lost,  it  is  pretty  certain  that  no  chaff  has  been  preserved. 
In  collecting  some  materials,  the  author  has  been  kindly  assisted  by  several 
gentlemen,  among  whom,  he  takes  pleasure  in  mentioning  Ephraim  Mills 
Esq.  of  Canton,  and  Joseph  Cornish  and   Ardon  B.  Holcomb  Esq'rs.  of 
■>^         Granby,  to  each  of  whom  he  is  indebted  for  valuable  information  communica- 
te; ted  and  incorporated  in  the  work.  N.  A.  P. 
•"'C           .    April,  1845. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I.  PAGE. 

SiMSBURY.— Preliminary  measures  relating  to  the  establishment  of  a  new 
Plantation  at  Massacoe.  Settlement  and  Incorporation  of  the  Town, 
&c.     1642— 1G75.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .9 

DkT  ,    -cr  CHAPTER  II. 

Philip  s  War.  Burning  of  Simsbury.  Removal  and  return  of  the  Inhab- 
itants,    Measures  adopted  to  rebuild  the  plantation.     1675—1683.  19 

„.  .  CHAPTER  III. 

History  of  the  Massacoe  Indians.  Indian  Hostilities  after  Philip's  War. 
Captivity  of  Daniel  Hayes.     164S— 1750. 


Employment  and 


otKei-  F''"^^6sias- 


Common  Fields. 
1679—1725. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Location  and  erection  of  the  First  Meeting-House. 
Settlement  of  Clergymen.     1671  —  1725. 

_         .  CHAPTER  V. 

Location  and  erection  of  tho  gc^vnia  ivieetiiTg^-iiouse. 
tical  Affairs.     1725— 1S45.         .  .  ... 

CHAPTER  VI. 
General  History  continued  from  Chapter  II.      Mills. 
Distribution  of  Common  Lands.  Fishery.  Miscellaneous. 
CHAPTER  VII. 
Manufactures.      Ancient  Map.     Bridges.     Ferry.     Services  jrendered  in 
the  French  Wars  and  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.      Miscellaneous. 
1726—1845.  ........ 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Granby. — Settlement.    Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  History.    1681 — 1845. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Copper  Mines.     Discovery.      Magnitnde  of  the  Works.     Amount 
of  Disbursements.     Smelting  Works  at  Hanover.    The  Phoenix  Mining 
Company.     1705 — 1S33.  ...... 

CHAPTER  X. 

Newgate  Prison.  Establishment.  Destruction  of  Buildings  by  Fire. 
Escape  of  Convicts.  Confinement  of  Tories.  Employment  of  Prison- 
ers.    Police  Regulations.     1773 — 1827.  .  .  .  . 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Canton. — Settlement.     Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  History.     1737 — 1845. 

APPENDIX. 

A.  Indian  Deeds.  .... 

B.  Simsbury  Patent— 1680. 

C.  Amount  of  Lists  from  1689  to  1780. 

D.  Tax  Payers— 1694,  1696. 

E.  Prominent  Offices  held  by  Natives  of  the  Town. 

F.  List  of  Judges  of  Probate.     . 

G.  "     of  Representatives  to  the  General  Assembly. 
H.      "     of  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

I.       "     of  Town  Clerks. 

Extracts  from  Town  and  Society  Records. 
Rescister  of  Marriages,  Births,  k-c. 
Statistics.     Census  of  1756,  1774,  &c.        ; 


30 


45 


57 


75 


87 


103 


113 


120 


136 


147 
150 
151 
152 
154 
155 
1.56 
163 
165 
166 
168 
176 


HISTORY 


SIMSBUEY,  GMNBY  AND  CANTON. 


SiMSBURY  originally  embraced  nearly  the  whole  territory  included  within 
the  present  limits  of  Simsbury,  Granby  and  Canton.  Granby  was  set  off 
into  a  separate  town  in  1780,  and  Canton  into  another  town,  in  1806.  In  the 
following  pages,  the  history  of  the  three  towns  will,  generally,  be  united  in 
one  sketch,  under  the  title  of  Simsbury,  until  the  periods  respectively,  when 
Granby  and  Canton  were  incorporated  —  after  which,  the  history  of  each 
town  will  be  considered  separately. 


CHAPTER   I. 

SIMSBURY. 

Preliminary  nif  asures  relating  to  the  establishment  of  a  new  Plantation  at  Massacoe. 
Settlement  and  Incorporation  of  the  Town,  &c.,  1642 — 1675. 

The  first  settlers  of  Simsbury  came  from  Windsor.  A 
very  large  proportion  of  the  present  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  can  trace  their  ancestry  to  that  small  flock,  who, 
under  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Warham,  left 
England  in  1630,  and  after  remaining  a  short  time  in 
Dorchester,  near  Boston,  removed  in  the  fall  of  1635,  and 
spring  of  1636,  to  Windsor. 

The  tract  of  territory  embraced  within  the  present  limits 
of  Simsbury  and  Granby,  especially  that  part  of  it  lying  in, 
and  adjacent  to,  the  valley  through  which  the  Farmington 
river  winds  its  course,  was  anciently  known  and  called  by 
the  Indian  name  of  Massacoe.*     By  reason  of  its  produc- 


*  Sometimes  spelt  Massacoh,  and  occasionally  Saco.     It  is  generally  pro- 
nounced Mas-saw'-co. 
Q 


10 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 


tions  in  such  articles  of  trade  as  furs,  tar,  pitch  and  turpen- 
tine,— its  expansive  meadows,  and  its  fitness  for  a  new  plant- 
ation,— it  attracted,  at  a  very  early  period,  the  attention  of 
tlie  inhabitants  of  Windsor. 

Although  this  section  of  country  was  never  included 
within  the  limits  of  Windsor,  it  was,  by  general  consent, 
considered  as  belonging  to  that  plantation,  in  the  same 
manner  as  Farmington  was  considered  as  belonging  to  the 
plantation  of  Hartford.  Massacoe  was  bounded  by  Wind- 
sor on  the  east,  by  Tunxus,  now  Farmington,  on  the  south, 
by  the  wilderness  on  the  west,  and  by  Wa7-anoake  or  West- 
field,  now  Southwick,  on  the  north.  The  river  at  this  time 
was  called  Tunxus. 

The  first  act  of  government  on  record,  relating  to  Massa- 
coe, was  an  order  passed  in  1642,  a  little  over  six  years  from 
the  commencement  of  the  settlement  of  the  Colony,  and  is 
in  these  words  : 

"  It  is  ordered,  that  the  Governor  and  Mr.  Haynes  shall  have 
liberty  o  dispose  of  the  ground  upon  that  part  of  Tunxus  river, 
called  Massacoe,  to  such  inhabitants  of  Windsor,  as  they  shall  see 
cause." 

In  March  1647,  the  General  Court  passed  this  order : 

"  The  Court  thinks  fit  that  Massacoe  be  purchased  by  the  coun- 
try, and  that  there  be  a  committee  chosen  to  dispose  of  it  to  such 
inhabitants  of  Windsor,  as  by  them  shall  be  judged  meet  to  make 
improvements  thereof,  in  such  kind  as  may  be  for  the  good  of  this 
Commonwealth  ;  and  the  purchase  to  be  repaid  by  those  that  shall 
enjoy  it,  with  reasonable  allowance.  Mr.  Hopkins  is  entreated 
to  be  one  of  the  committee,  and  Mr.  Webster  another ; — and  Mr. 
Steele,  Mr.  Talcott  and  Mr.  Westall,  to  view  the  foresaid 
ground,  and  assist  in  the  dispose  thereof." 

No  purchase  of  the  Indian  title  was  made  under  this 
order,  nor  is  it  known  that  any  sales  or  grants  of  land  were 
made  by  either  of  these  committees;  if  there  were  any 
such,  they  remained  unlocatcd  until  at  a  future  time. 
Many  grants  were  made  by  the  General  Court  to  sundry 
persons  of  specified  quantities  of  land,  some  of  which  were 
of  lands  at  Massacoe. 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  H 

The  first  Indian  deed  of  this  territory  was  given  in  1648, 
by  Manahanoose,  to  John  Griffin,  in  consideration  that  the 
grantor  had  kindled  a  fire  which,  in  its  progress,  had  con- 
sumed a  large  quantity  of  pitch  and  tar  belonging  to  Mr. 
Griffin.  The  deed  is  informal,  containing  but  a  few  lines, 
and  purports  to  convey  the  right  and  interest  of  the  grantor 
in  all  the  lands  at  Massacoe.  It  is  recorded  on  the  town 
records  of  Windsor.  Soon  afterwards,  three  other  principal 
Indians  made  a  conveyance  of  their  interest  in  these  lands 
to  Mr.  Griffin.  These  are  the  only  conveyances,  of  which 
we  have  any  record  evidence,  made  by  the  Indians  until 
1680,  when  a  formal  and  legal  deed  was  executed,  of  which 
notice  will  be  taken  hereafter.* 

In  1653,  the  General  Court  g^-anted  to  Lieutenant  Aaron 
Cook,  fifty  acres  of  land  at  Massacoe,  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  next  above  the  falls  ;  to  John  Bissell,  sixty  acres  next 
adjoining  on  the  south-west;  and  to  Thomas  Ford,  fift}^ 
acres  on  what  is  now  called  the  island  in  that  vicinity,  of 
which,  it  is  stated,  he  had  improved  forty-four  acres  by 
plowing  and  mowing.  For  these  grants,  they  were  to  pay 
into  the  treasury  five  pounds.  And  the  Court  "  desired  that 
Mr.  Wolcott  and  Mr.  Clarke  should  dispose  of  the  remainder 
of  the  ground  at  Massacoe,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Windsor, 
as  they  judge  convenient,  and  to  order  the  laying  out  of  the 
former  grants." 

In  March  1663,  Captain  Newberry,  Edward  Griswoldand 
John  Moore,  were  appointed  a  committee  "to  lay  out  all 
those  lands  that  are  yet  undivided  at  Massacoe,  to  such 
inliabitants  of  Windsor  as  desire,  and  need  it."  And  in  the 
same  year,  a  grant  of  two  hundred  acres  was  made  by  the 
General  Court  to  John  Griffin,  in  consideration  "  that  he 
was  the  first  that  perfected  the  art  of  making  pitch  and  tar 
in  those  parts;"  the  land  to  be  taken  up  "where  he  can 
find  it  between  Massacoh  and  Warranoake,  whereof  there 
may  be  forty  acres  of  meadow,  if  it  be  there  to  be  had,  and 
be  not  prejudicial  to  a  plantation,  and  not  granted."  This 
tract  of  land,  including  another  grant  made  subsequently 
*See  Chapter  III. 


12  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

by  the  town,  was  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of  "Grif- 
fin's Lordship." 

It  is  not  known  that  any  grants  were  made  imder  these 
orders  of  the  Court.  It  is  supposed,  however,  that  there 
were  a  few  unlocated  rights  disposed  of, — and  there  were 
probably  some  proprietors,  in  addition  to  those  who  had 
grants  from  the  Colony,  whose  lands  were  laid  out  and 
designated  by  boundaries.  But  a  division  into  lots  did  not 
take  place  until  after  this  period. 

The  commencement  of  permanent  settlements  in  the 
plantation  is  known  to  have  been  as  early  as  1664,  and  was 
perhaps  still  earlier.  Lands  were  cultivated,  and  some 
improvements  made,  as  early  as  1653  j  but  the  occupation 
of  the  proprietors,  it  is  believed,  was  as  yet  but  temporary. 
Persons  too,  following  other  avocations,  were  occasional 
residents  of  the  place,  even  before  this  time.  In  1643, 
John  Griffin  and  Michael  Humphrey,  who  subsequently 
became  distinguished  inhabitants  of  the  town,  eacli  the 
founder  of  a  numerous  family,  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  pitch  and  tar,  and  the  collecting  of  turpentine, 
which  business  was  continued,  particularly  by  Mr.  Griffin, 
many  years  thereafter,  and  became  an  extensive  operation. 
Others  too,  allured  by  inducements  of  traffic  with  the 
Indians,  were  occasionally  here.  But  none  of  them,  so  far 
as  is  now  known,  had  commenced  a  permanent  residence  in 
the  place  until  1664.  Among  the  first  settlers  was  John 
Griffin.  He  is  generally,  and  doubtless  most  justly,  consid- 
ered as  the  pioneer  of  the  new  settlement.  By  a  deed  of 
the  date  of  1664,  he  is  described  as  then  belonging  to  Mas- 
sacoe.  He  resided  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  river,  above 
the  falls,  and  subsequently  erected  a  mill  at  the  falls. 

But  a  few  families  only  could  have  been  settled  in  the 
plantation  until  nearly  five  years  after  this  time,  and  they 
must  have  been  located  near  Mr.  Griffin.  That  there  were 
some  however,  would  appear  by  an  order  of  the  General 
Court,  passed  in  1667,  requiring  "all  the  freemen  and 
householders  "  of  Windsor  and  Massacoe  to  assemble,  and 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY. 


13 


decide  by  their  votes,  a  question  relating-  to  the  continuance 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chauncey  in  the  ministry  at  Windsor.* 

The  committee,  in  December  1666,  specified  the  terms 
upon  which  ''  those  who  took  up  lands  at  Massacoe  should 
have  them."  These  were, — that,  within  two  years,  they 
should  make  improvements  by  plowing-,  mowing",  building 
and  fencing  ;  and  that  they  should  live  on  their  grants  two 
years. 

The  first  grants  by  the  committee,  of  which  any  record 
exists,  were  made  in  1667.  These  consisted  of  meadow 
lands,  bordering  on  the  river,  and  were  made  to  the  follow- 
ing persons  : 


Meadow  Plain ; 
John  Gillett, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
Jonn  Case, 
Minister's  lot, 
John  Pettibone. 
Hazel  Meadoto ; 
John  Gillett. 
Terr  I/'' s  Plain  ; 
Terrys. 


Hop  jMeadow ; 
John  Barber, 
Joseph  Skinner, 
Minister's  lot, 
Thomas  Barber, 
John  Drake, 
Samuel  Pinney, 
Peter  Buell. 
Location  unlcnnion 
Joshua  Holcomb. 


Weatague^  east ; 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Simon  Mills, 

Nathan  Gillett, 

John  Moses, 

Micah  Humphrey. 

Newbury''s,  now, 

\Vestover''s  Plain ; 
Adamses, 
Bissells, 

Simon  Wolcott. 


These  persons  did  not  immediately  remove  their  families 
from  Windsor  to  Massacoe,  though  it  is  believed  that  by 
1669  all  of  them  had  become  inhabitants  of  the  new  plan- 
tation. 

It  does  not  appear  how  much  land  was  allotted  (o  each 
proprietor,  nor  what  consideration  was  paid.  It  is  supposed, 
however,  that  the  grants  were  burthened  only  with  the  pay- 
ment of  a  sum  sufficient  to  reimburse  the  expenses  of  the 
committee.  Probably,  nearly  all  the  choice  meadow  lands 
were  disposed  of  at  tiiis  time,  and  that  some  of  the  grantees, 
failing  to  comply  with  the  terms,  forfeited  their  rights,  which 
were  afterwarils  taken  by  other  persons ;  for  it  is  known  that 
there  were  a  few  persons,  whose  names  do  not  appear  upon 


*  The  number  of  votes  polled  on  this  occasion,  was  128.  The  question 
produced  a  great  excitement,  and  probably  called  forth  the  whole  strengtli 
of  the  voters  of  Windsor,  including  Massacoe. 

2* 


14  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

this  list,  who  were  among-  the  early  settlers  of  the  place. 
Among  them  were  Samuel  Filley,  John  Griffin,  Thomas 
Maskell,  Luke  Hill  and  John  Buell. 

In  1668,  the  General  Court  passed  another  order,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  plantation,  in  these  words  : 

"  The  Court  doth  desire  that  Massacoe,  which  hitherto  hath 
been  an  appendix  to  the  town  of  Windsor,  may  be  improved  for 
the  making  of  a  plantation  ;  and  Captain  Benjamin  Newberry, 
Deacon  John  Moore  and  Mr.  Simon  Wolcott,  the  present  com- 
mittee for  the  grant  of  those  Lands,  are  desired  and  empowered  by 
the  Court  to  further  the  planting  of  the  same,  and  to  make  such 
just  orders  as  they  shall  judge  requisite  for  the  well  ordering  of 
the  said  plantation,  so  they  be  not  repugnant  to  the  public  orders 
of  this  Colony." 

A  meeting  of  tlie  proprietors  was  held,  October  5,  1668, 
at  the  house  of  John  Moore,  Jr.,  in  Windsor,  when  it  was 
agreed  tliat,  by  the  first  of  May  then  next,  they  would  fence 
their  respective  lots  of  land  in  Massacoe,  and  on  failure 
thereof,  pay  to  the  rest  of  the  company  five  pounds.  Twen- 
ty-five persons  agreed  to  talce  uplands,  varying  in  quantity 
from  forty  to  eighty  acres  by  each  person,  upon  terms 
required  by  the  committee,  but  which  terms  do  not  precisely 
appear.  A  large  number  of  lots  were  drawn  for  at  this 
meeting,  or  located  at  about  the  same  time,  in  some  other 
manner.  These  lots  lay  adjacent  to  the  meadows  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  between  the  falls  and  Farmington  line. 

During  the  ensuing  winter  and  spring,  the  proprietors,  (at 
least  those  already  named,)  removed  to  Massacoe,  and  look 
possession  of  their  respective  lots.  They  had  previously,  it 
is  presumed,  made  improvements  by  clearing  some  portion 
of  their  farms,  and  erecting  habitations  for  their  families. 
Considerable  portions  of  the  meadows,  upon  which  the 
natives  had,  for  a  long  period  of  time,  cultivated  corn, 
required  no  labor  to  fit  them  for  immediate  use.  To  possess 
these  lands,  thus  cleared  and  rich  in  soil,  was  a  strong 
inducement  with  these  settlers  to  remove  from  Windsor  into 
this  wilderness.  But,  how  they  contrived  to  satisfy  the 
Indians  to  give  up  the  meadows,  and  suflTer  the  newcomers 
to  occupy  them,  history  does  not  reveal.     As  yet,   no  title 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  15 

to  them  had  been  obtained,  except  by  the  informal,  and  it 
may  be  added,  illegal  conveyances  before  mentioned,  made 
to  Mr.  Giiffin  by  three  or  four  Indians,  who  released  only 
their  individual  rights  in  the  premises.  The  new  settler, 
it  is  presumed,  found  no  difficulty  in  driving  a  bargain  with 
the  natives,  by  means  of  small  presents  and  other  appliances 
usually  resorted  to  then  and  since,  in  all  negociations  between 
the  red  and  white  man.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
disturbance  arose  out  of  this  change  in  the  possession  of 
these  lands. 

The  prospects  of  the  plantation  at  this  time  were,  upon 
the  whole,  cheering.  There  had  been  no  Indian  hostilities 
in  this  quarter,  since  the  settlement  of  the  Colony,  and  none 
was  apprehended.  Indeed,  for  many  years  preceding  this 
time,  no  Indian  troubles  had  prevailed  in  the  Colony  to 
disturb  its  repose.  About  this  time,  the  boundary  line 
between  the  plantation  and  Farminglon,  long  a  matter  of 
controversy,  had  been  surveyed  and  established.  And,  in 
1669,  the  General  Assembly,  to  aid  the  new  settlement, 
remitted  all  Colony  taxes  for  the  terra  of  three  years.  The 
plantation,  too,  had  the  patronage  of  som.e  of  the  most 
influential  men  belonging  to  Windsor,  who,  being  largely 
interested  as  proprietors,  took  active  measures  to  promote 
its  prosperity. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  settlement  in  its  progress  had 
many  obstacles  to  overcome.  With  a  river  that  could  not 
be  forded,  except  at  the  falls,  with  no  bridges,  no  roads,  no 
markets  for  their  surplus  produce,  and  no  protection  on  two 
sides,  should  the  Indians  become  hostile,  its  advancement 
was  materially  retarded.  Yet,  notwithstanding  these  im- 
pediments, during  the  six  succeeding  years — up  to  the  time 
of  the  breaking  up  of  the  plantation  by  Philip's  war  in 
1675, — its  progress  in  population  and  general  improvements 
w^as  considerable,  and  such  as  to  encourage  the  hopes  of  the 
adventurers. 

From  a  return  made  in  1669,  by  order  of  the  Assembly, 
of  the  names  oi freemen  belonging  to  each  town  and  plant- 
ation, it  appears  that  the  number  belonging  to  Massacoe 


16  HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY. 

was  thirteen.  Their  names  are, — Thomas  Barber,  John 
Case,  Samuel  Filley,  John  Griffin,  Michael  Humphrey, 
Joshua  Holcomb,  Thomas  Maskell,  Luke  Hill,  Samuel 
Pinney,  Joseph  Phelps,  John  Buell,  Joseph  Skinner  and 
Peter  Buell. 

In  the  same  year,  John  Case  was  appointed  by  tlie 
General  Court y  Constable  for  Massacoe.  He  was  the  first 
person,  belonging  to  the  place,  who  was  invested  with 
office. 

The  inhabitants,  in  1670,  petitioned  for  town  privileges, 
and  appointed  two  delegates,  Joshua  Holcomb  and  John 
Case,  to  present  their  application  to  the  May  Session  of  the 
General  Court.  Their  request  was  readily  granted,  and  the 
delegates  received  as  members  of  the  Assembly.  The 
record  of  incorporation  is  in  these  words. — 

"  This  Court  grants  Massacoe 's  bounds  shall  run  from  Far- 
mington  bounds  to  the  northward  tenn  miles,  and  from  Windsor 
bounds,  on  the  east,  to  run  westward  tenn  miles ;  provided  it  doe 
not  prejudice  any  former  grant,  and  be  in  the  power  of  this  Court 
so  to  dispose. 

The  Court  orders  that  the  plantation  at  Massacoe  be  called 
Simsbury." 

Anterior  to  this,  there  were  but  twenty  towns  in  the 
Colony,  including  New  Haven  Colony ;  the  two  Colonies 
having  become  united  a  few  years  before  this  time. 

The  proviso  in  the  above  Resolve  had  particular  reference, 
it  is  supposed,  to  the  uncertainty  of  the  line  between  this 
Colony  and  Massachusetts,  which  line  at  that  time  was 
unsettled  and  remained  in  doubt.  During  many  years  after 
this  period,  according  to  the  claim  of  Massacliusetts,  the 
extension  of  Simsbury,  from  Farmington  bounds  northward, 
would  not  hnve  exceeded  eight  miles. 

Under  this  authority  the  town  proceeded  to  organize  and 
appoint  its  officers.  But  as  the  early  records  of  the  town 
were  destroyed  by  fire,  we  have  no  means  of  ascertaining 
who  were  the  first  officers  appointed.  '^  Sergeant  Griffin 
and  Simon  Wolcott"  were  elected  townsmen,  or  selectmen, 
in  1674. 

At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Court,  1671,  lib- 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  17 

erty  was  granted  to  Mr.  Simon  Wolcott  "  to  retail  wine  and 
liquors,  (provided  he  keep  good  order  in  the  dispose  of  it,) 
until  there  be  an  ordinary  set  up  in  Simsbury."*  This  Mr. 
Wolcott  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Roger  Wolcott,  who, 
for  many  years,  was  governor  of  the  Colony.  Mr,  Simon 
Wolcott  lived  nearly  opposite  the  dwelling  house  of  Charles 
L.  Roberts,  Esq.,  in  the  north  part  of  the  present  town  of 
Simsbury,  where  the  governor  was  born,  in  1679.  The 
Court  also  recommended  to  the  "  inhabitants  and  proprietors 
of  Simsbury  to  rayse  the  minister's  and  towne  rate  this 
yeare  upon  persons  and  land." 

In  1673,  Simon  Wolcott  and  John  Griffin  were  appointed 
by  the  Assembly  "to  command  the  train-band  at  Sims- 
bury;" and  seven  men  were  ordered  to  be  raised  for  the 
public  service,  when  required.  This  train-bandf  consisted 
of  but  a  small  portion  of  a  company,  and  the  gentlemen 
appointed  to  command  it  were  not  commissioned  as  officers. 
The  object  doubtless  was  to  keep  up  a  military  organiza- 
tion, under  persons  invested  with  authority,  in  order  to  be 
prepared  for  any  sudden  emergency  that  might  happen. 

In  1674,  the  town  ordered  a  ferry  place  to  be  estabh'shed 
at  the  mouth  of  Hop  brook.  This,  however,  meant  only 
that  the  inhabitants  might  enjoy  the  privilege  of  passing 
the  river  at  this  place.  It  was  many  years  after  this  time 
before  any  thing  like  a  ferry,  furnished  with  a  boat  large 
enough  to  transport  even  ahorse  across  the  river,  was  estab- 
lished. At  the  same  time,  a  road  leading  from  Hop  meadow 
to  East  Weatauge  was  laid  out,  crossing  the  river  at  this 
place. 

It  was  ordered  by  the  town,  June  8,  1674,  "  that  all  the 
inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  from  fourteen  years  old  to  sixty, 
shall  next  Monday  sennight  stub  bushes," — meaning, 
bushes  in  the  roads. 

In  respect  to  roads  generally,  it  may  interest  the  public 
to  be  informed  that,  for  about  fifty  years  after  the  first  set- 

*  An  "  ordinary"  was  set  up,  in  1675,  by  Samuel  Pinney,  who  was  licensed 
to  keep  tavern. 

t  All  militia  companies  were,  at  this  time,  called  train-bands. 


18  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

tlement  of  the  Colony,  no  measures  were  taken  to  make 
roads  from  town  to  town,  other  than  to  clear  them  of 
"  brush ;" — to  effect  which,  the  laws  required  each  inhabit- 
ant to  labor  on  the  public  roads  one  day  in  each  year.  In 
1679,  the  General  Court  recommended  to  the  selectmen  of 
the  several  towns  to  clear  their  main  roads  in  this  manner, 
"  at  least  one  rod  wide."* 

Hitherto,  the  plantation,  though  at  no  time  particularly 
prosperous,  had  experienced  no  serious  reverses.  But,  in 
1675,  the  scene  was  changed.  Hostilities  had  commenced 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  which  led  to  a  disastrous  war, 
bringing,  in  its  train,  ruin  and  desolation  upon  the  new  set- 
tlement. The  history  of  this  war,  its  ravages  and  results, 
as  connected  with  the  settlement,  will  be  delineated  in  the 
next  chapter. 

*  May  session,  1679.  "This  Court  orders  that  the  present  roades  from 
plantation  to  plantation  shall  be  reputed  the  country  roades,  or  king's  high- 
way, and  so  to  remayne  until  the  Court  do  see  good  reason  to  make  alteration 
of  the  same ; — and  whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  each  plantation  were  by  law 
required  once  a  yeare  to  worke  a  day  in  clearing  of  the  brush,  it  is  by  this 
Court  recommended  to  the  townsmen  (selectmen)  of  the  several  plantations, 
to  improve  their  inhabitants  in  clearing  the  common  roades,  in  the  first  place 
that  lye  between  towne  and  towne,  until  the  sayd  roades  are  cleared  at  least 
one  rod  wide." 


CHAPTER   II. 


Philip's  War.    Burning  of  Simsbury.    Removal  and  Return  of  the  Inhabitants.   Measures 
adopted  to  Rebuild  the  Plantation.— 1675— 1683. 

In  the  summer  of  1675,  the  New  Engkmd  Colonies 
became  much  alarmed  by  the  movements  of  the  Indians, 
and  the  intelligence  of  their  purpose  to  assault  some  of  the 
English  plantations.  It  was  soon  manifest  that  war  Avas 
inevitable.  The  conflict  which,  in  after  limes,  was  known 
as  "Philip's  war,"  had  already  commenced,  and  was  about 
to  extend  its  ravages  into  this  Colony.  Indications  of  the 
near  approach  of  danger  were  so  strong,  as  to  cast  a  deep 
gloom  over  the  new  settlements.  But  the  danger  was  to  be 
met,  and  there  were  "  stout  hearts"  at  hand  fitted  for  the 
emergency.  A  large  military  force  was  raised  in  the 
Colony,  and  sundry  fortifications  were  ordered  to  be  built 
and  manned.  Other  measures  too,  were  adopted  to  meet 
the  crisis,  and  give  protection  to  the  frontier  settlements. 

A  Council  of  War  had  been  established,  and  was  almost 
in  daily  session,  except  during  the  sessions  of  the  General 
Assembly.  On  the  sixth  of  August,  1675,  the  Council 
ordered  one  hundred  dragoons  to  be  raised  in  the  county  of 
Hartford  ;*  and  "  that  all  persons  be  duly  prepared  and  pro- 
vided with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  that  they  assemble 
on  Monday  next,  by  sun  an  hour  high,  at  the  meeting- 
house in  their  respective  plantations,"  there  to  attend  "to 
such  other  directions  as  shall  be  given  them  by  their  com- 
manders." 

On  the  thirtieth  of  the  same  month,  Major  Treat,  who 
had  been  appointed  commander  of  the  forces,  was  directed 

*  Subsequently,  350  men  were  raised  in  the  Colony — af  whom  seven  were 

of  Simsbury. 


20 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 


to  march  to  Westfield  and  Northampton,  to  intercept  the 
Indians.  He  proceeded  as  far  as  Windsor,  when,  being 
informed  that  one  Christopher  Crow,  while  traveling  be- 
tween Hartford  and  Simsbury,  had  been  assaulted  and  shot 
at  by  four  Indians,  eight  being  in  company,  he  halted,  and 
upon  advising  the  Council  of  this  occurrence,  he  was 
ordered  to  leave  thirty  of  his  men,  and  advance  with  the 
rest  on  the  expedition.  But,  on  the  next  day,  the  Council 
having  received  intelligence  of  other  indications  of  hostility 
on  the  part  of  the  Indians  ;  that  one  John  Colt  had  been 
shot  at,  and  another  party  of  Indians  been  discovered  lurk- 
ing near  (he  north  meadow  in  Hartford,  on  the  preceding 
night,  the  Council  ordered  the  return  of  Major  Treat,  with 
his  forces,  forthwith  to  Hartford. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  the  Council  directed  that  a  night 
watch  be  kept  in  every  plantation, — all  soldiers  from  six- 
teen to  seventy  j^ears  of  age  being  required  to  attend  their 
course  of  watch, — and  that  one  fourth  part  of  the  military 
force  of  each  town  be  under  arms  every  day,  by  turns,  to 
guard  their  respective  plantations. 

It  was  also  ordered,  that,  during  these  commotions  with 
the  Indians,  all  persons,  having  occasion  to  work  in  the 
fields,  should  work  in  companies ;  and  where  the  fields  lay 
at  a  distance  of  half  a  mile  from  town,  such  companies 
should  consist  of  not  less  than  six  persons,  with  their  arms 
and  ammunition  well  fitted  for  service. 

For  the  prevention  of  danger  to  travelers,  the  town  of 
Windsor  was  required  to  send,  each  other  day,  four  men 
"to  clear  the  roads  to  Simsbury."  Other  towns  were 
required  to  perform  a  similar  service  on  their  main  roads 
leading  from  town  to  town. 

The  Indians  who  had  been  in  the  service  of  the  Colony, 
having  returned  to  Hartford  from  one  of  their  expeditions, 
the  Council  ordered,  as  a  recompens3  for  their  services,  that 
there  be  given  to  each  Mohegan  a  coat,  and  to  each  Waba- 
quassuck  Indian,  ^'■apayre  of  breeches.^^ 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  September,  the  Council  came 
to  an  agreement  with  the  Indians  of  Farmington,  Hartford, 


HISTORY    OF     SIMSBURY.  21 

Wethersfieldand  Middletown,  wheiein  the  Indians  engaged 
''to  continue  in  friendship  with  the  English,  to  espouse 
their  cause,  and  to  discover  and  destroy  their  enemies"  : — 
the  Council  stipulating  to  pay  them  two  yards  of  cloth  for 
every  head  of  an  enemy  killed  by  them,  and  four  yards  of 
cloth  for  every  captive  they  should  deliver  alive.  This 
compact  was  afterwards  renewed  and  confirmed  by  all  the 
Indians  residing  within  the  county  of  Hartford,  and  was 
reduced  to  writing.  The  treaty  was  to  continue  during  the 
war,  and  to  guarantee  its  fulfillment  the  Indians  were  re- 
quired to  give  hostages. 

The  Indians  who  were  known  to  be  engaged  in  this  war- 
fare against  the  English,  in  addition  to  powerful  tribes 
under  the  immediate  control  of  Philip,  in  Rhode  Island,  and 
other  places  in  that  vicinity,  consisted  of  tribes  scattered 
through  the  central  parts  of  Massachusetts,  and  extending 
up  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  river  in  that  Colony.  Some 
of  the  Pequots  in  this  Colony,  as  well  as  portions  of  tribes 
residing  in  the  county  of  Fairfield,  were  supposed  to  favor 
the  conspiracy.  Simsbury,  from  its  being  a  frontier  town, 
was  peculiarly  exposed  to  the  inroads  of  the  enemy,  and 
especially  to  sudden  attacks  from  the  northern  Indians. 
The  condition  of  the  town  was  deemed  so  hazardous,  as  to 
attract  the  special  attention  of  the  General  Assembly. 

At  an  early  period  of  the  war,  a  garrison  was  kept  up  in 
this  town  at  the  public  expense.  It  was  so  constructed  and 
guarded,  as  to  afford  protection,  in  an  ordinary  assault,  to 
such  inhabitants  as  might  flee  to  it  for  safety.  But  the 
danger  became  so  imminent  as  to  induce  the  Legislature,  at 
the  October  session,  1675,  to  pass  an  order  directing  the 
inhabitants  to  provide  places  of  securily  for  themselves  and 
crops,  wif.hin  one  ireek,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
that  the  garrison  be  evacuated.* 

*  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  record.  Its  melancholy  tone  is  indicative 
of  the  despondency  which  so  generally  prevailed  at  that  time 

"This  Court  from  a  deep  sense  of  the  imminent  danger  that  all  our  plan- 
tations are  in,  by  the  nakedness  of  each  and  every  place,  do  order  and 
appoynt  every  plantation,  (as  a  means  under  God  for  their  safety,)  to  make 
such  suitable  places  of  defence  as  they  are  capable  of,  and   appoynt   such 

3 


22  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

Upon  the  promulg-ation  of  this  order,  the  inhabitants 
removed  to  Windsor  or  Hartford,  carrying  with  them  such 
of  their  effects  as  could  be  transported.  But  the  contempla- 
ted attack  did  not  take  place  that  fall,  and  during  the 
succeeding  winter,  the  people,  deeming  the  danger  over, 
removed  back  to  their  former  habitations.  The  danger, 
however,  had  not  passed  away  ;  in  the  ensuing  spring,  it 
assumed  a  more  threatening  aspect  than  ever. 

There  is  no  record  evidence  of  any  act  of  hostility  per- 
petrated by  the  Indians  against  the  English  in  this  Colony, 
during  the  winter  of  1675-6,  excepting  that  in  February, 
one  William  Hill  was  shot  and  severely  wounded  by  an 
Indian  at  Hockanum.  Before  the  close  of  the  season,  how- 
ever, there  were  such  evidences  of  a  design  to  attack  the 
settlements,  especially  those  of  the  weaker  classes,  as  to 
induce  the  Council  of  War  to  adopt  the  most  vigorous  mea- 
sures in  defense  of  the  plantations.  A  force  of  four 
hundred  and  fifteen  men  was  raised  in  the  Colony,  and  all 
the  larger  towns  were  ordered  to  complete  their  stockades, 
and  line  them  with  ditches  and  breastworks.  The  former 
orders  of  the  Council,  in  reference  to  the  people's  working 
in  companies  in  the  fields,  and  those  relating  to  the  keep- 
ing of  watches,  and  wards,  were  re-issued  and  directed  to 
be  obeyed,  and  the  shooting  off  of  guns,  by  which  a  false 
alarm  might  be  given,  was  prohibited  under  severe  penal- 
ties. It  was  also  ordered,  that  all  the  male  inhabitants  of 
the  several  plantations,  capable  of  bearing  arms,  should 
carry  their  arms  and  ammunition,  with  them,  to  all  public 

places  for  their  women  and  children,  and  others  that  are  not  able  to  help 
themselves,  to  repayre  unto,  in  case  of  assault,  that  all  out-livers,  and  weak 
places,  do  take  speedy  and  effectual  course  to  get  their  women  and  children, 
corn,  and  the  best  of  their  estates,  to  places  of  the  most  hopeful  security,  as 
is  within  their  compass  to  do ;  and  that  each  plantation  do  appoynt  suitable 
persons  as  a  committee  to  order  those  affayres  respecting  places  of  fortifica- 
tion and  defence. 

This  Court  orders,  that  the  people  of  Simsbury  shall  have  a  week's  time 
to  secure  themselves  and  their  corn  there,  and  at  the  end  of  the  week  from 
this  date,  the  souldiers,  now  in  garrison  at  Simsbury,  shall  be  released  their 
attendance  there." 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  23 

meetings,  at  times  of  worship  as  well  as  at  all  other  times. 
This  is  believed  to  have  been  the  origin  of  the  custom  of 
attending  meetings  with  fire  arms,  which  is  well  known  to 
have  prevailed  extensively,  if  not  universally,  during 
many  years  after  this  period. 

Under  date  of  March  3,  1676,  is  this  record : 

"  The  insolency  of  the  heathen,  and  their  rage  increasing  against 
the  English,  and  the  spoyle  that  they  have  made  in  sundry  places, 
hath  moved  us  to  order  that  forthivith  the  people  of  Simsburydoe 
remove  themselves,  and  what  estate  they  can  remove,  to  some  of 
the  neighboring  plantations,  for  their  safety  and  security." 

In  obedience  to  this  order,  every  white  person  was 
removed  from  the  town  with  all  possible  dispatch  ;  and  the 
Indians  of  the  place,  most  of  whom  had  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  English,  or  at  least  had  remained  passive, 
were  compelled  to  remove,  or  secrete  themselves  in  the 
forests.  The  whites  returned  to  Windsor,  or  Hartford, 
taking  with  them  their  herds  of  cattle,  and  but  little  else  of 
consequence  ;  for,  as  there  were  at  that  time  no  bridges,  and 
nothing  but  narrow  pathways  for  roads,  articles  of  personal 
estate,  generally,  could  not  be  transported  without  much . 
difficulty,  and  consequent  delay.  The  friendly  Indians 
who  removed,  it  is  believed  went  westwardly,  and  settled 
down  upon  the  Housatonuc  river,  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  township  of  Salisbury,  where  they  built  a  village 
which  they  called  Weatauge,  after  the  village  of  that  name 
in  Simsbury  which  they  had  left,  and  where  they  and  their 
descendants  resided  many  years  thereafter.* 

The  settlement,  thus  abandoned,  became  an  easy  prey  to 
the  ravages  of  the  enemy. ^  Hordes  of  Indians,  under  the 
command,  as  is  supposed,  of  Philip  himself,  poured  in  from 

*  I  have  the  authority  of  Judge  Church,  of  Salisbury,  for  this  statement. 
Having  investigated  the  history  of  that  town,  which  was  published  in  1842, 
he  ascertained,  as  he  has  informed  me,  from  the  strongest  kind  of  tradition- 
ary evidence,  that  the  Weatauge  Indians  of  Salisbury  were  driven  from  Sims- 
bury  in  the  time  of  Philip's  war.  As  Salisbury  was  not  settled  by  the  Eng- 
lish until  about  1740,  these  Indians  continued  there  without  molestation 
from  the  whites,  more  than  sixty  years.  Remnants  of  the  tribe  remained  in 
that  town  many  years  afterwards. 


24 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 


the  north,  and  after  a  general  pillage,  destroyed  hy  fire 
nearly  every  building  in  the  town,  as  well  as  every  thing  else 
left  by  the  English,  which  could  be  found,  and  which  the 
invaders  could  not  appropriate  to  their  own  use.  The  ruin 
was  complete  —  nothing  but  utter  desolation  remained. 
During  all  the  Indian  wars,  before  and  since  this  event,  no 
destruction  of  any  English  settlement  in  New  England  has 
taken  place,  in  which  the  ruin,  it  is  believed,  was  more 
extensive,  or  more  general,  than  in  this  conflagration. 

This  event  took  place  on  Sunday,  the  twenty-sixth  of 
March  1676 — the  pillaging  in  the  day  time,  and  the  burning 
of  the  settlement  in  the  succeeding  night.  Philip,  it  is  said 
by  tradition,  seated  upon  a  neighboring  mountain,  which 
has  ever  since  borne  his  name,  viewed  the  scene,  and 
enjoyed  from  its  contemplation  those  emotions  of  pleasure 
which,  it  is  supposed,  are  peculiarly  agreeable  to  all  of  his 
race,  when  placed  under  similar  circumstances.*  His  deep 
rooted  hatred  of  the  English — the  cause  in  which  he  was 
engaged,  involving  his  own  existence,  and  probably  that  of 
his  nation,  if  not  of  his  whole  race — and  his  Indian  habits 
and  education — all  tended  to  make  this  scene  peculiarly 

*  There  is  more  of  fiction  than  truth  in  this  tradition.  It  is  pretty  certain 
that  Philip  was  not  in  this  part  of  the  country  at  this  time,  and  it  is  extremely 
doubtful  whether  the  mountain  derives  from  him  its  name.  In  the  early 
records  of  the  town,  it  is  called  Phelps'  mountain,  a  person  of  that  name  then 
being  the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  upon  it.  Nor  is  it  by  any  means 
certain  that  a  numerous  body  of  Indians  invaded  the  town  at  the  conflagra- 
tion. Since  writing  the  foregoing  account  of  this  disaster,  Sylvester  Judd 
Esq.,  of  Northampton,  whose  knowledge  of  Indian  history  is  very  extensive, 
has  directed  my  attention  to  a  document  in  the  State  department  at  Hartford, 
which,  perhaps,  throws  some  light  upon  this  subject.  It  is  the  examination 
of  an  Indian  culprit  concerning  the  perpetrators  of  various  offences.  When 
asked  who  committed  a  particular  murder,  he  gives  the  names  of  seven 
Indians,  most  of  whom  belonged  to  Springfield,  and  then  adds  "  and  they  it  was 
who  burnt  Simsbury.'"  Perhaps  no  reliance  ought  to  be  placed  upon  any 
part  of  his  story,  even  though  he  accuses  himself  with  others  of  certain 
crimes.  But  if  he  is  on  other  subjects,  entitled  to  credit,  and  if,  concerning 
this  transaction,  he  intends  to  say  that  btit  seven  persons  were  engaged  in  the 
conflagration,  he  must  be  mistaken;  for  so  small  a  number,  it  is  believed, 
could  not,  in  one  night,  have  fired  so  many  buildings  situated  as  these  were, 
separated  by  a  river,  and  extending  through  a  distance  of  about  seven  miles. 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  25 

pleasant  to  his  sight.  But,  if  he  turned  his  eyes,  as  he 
probably  did,  in  another  direction,  he  might  view  settle- 
ments, on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut,  so  strongly  forti- 
fied and  manned,  as  to  defy  his  power,  and  put  an  end  to 
his  hopes  of  conquest.  At  any  rate,  he  withdrew  his  forces, 
and  in  the  month  of  July  following-  was  himself  taken 
and  slain.  But  the  war  continued  some  months  after  his 
decease. 

On  the  following  day,  the  Council  of  War  received  notice 
of  this  conflagration,  which  they  communicated  to  the 
people  of  Farmington,  with  this  caution — "  to  stand  upon 
their  guard  for  their  own  defence," 

It  is  understood  that  nearly  forty  dwelling  houses,  chiefly 
of  the  poorer  classes,  were  destroyed,  with  a  hirge  number 
of  barns  and  other  buildings.  Nor  was  this  all.  Provis- 
ions, produce,  furniture,  fences  and  farming  utensils,  were 
collected  into  heaps  and  burned.  In  short,  every  injury 
w^hich  the  enemy  could  devise  was  inflicted,  and  in  a  man- 
ner too  so  as  most  to  destroy  the  property  of  the  settlers. 

After  this  event,  the  town  remained  deserted  about  one 
year,  during  which  time  no  attempt  was  made  to  rebuild  it. 
During  their  absence,  the  inhabitants,  most  of  whom  had 
fled  to  Windsor,  held  a  town  meeting  on  the  fourth  of  April 
1676,  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Skinner,  in  Windsor,  occa- 
sioned, as  the  record  says,  "  by  reason  of  (he  war." 

But  in  March  1677,  the  danger  being  supposed  over,  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants,  feeling  desirous  to  return,  applied 
to  the  Council  of  War  for  advice  and  permission  to  remove 
back  to  Simsbury.  The  Council  granted  their  request,  and 
passe^d  an  order  in  referencejo  common  fences,  and  another 
relating  to  the  occupancy  of  the  lands  of  such  proprietors  as 
should  not  return  to  the  town  within  a  specitied  term  of 
time.  Some  few  of  the  proprietors,  it  is  well  known,  never 
did  return  back  ; — preferring,  probably,  to  sacrifice  their 
estates  there,  rather  than  expose  themselves  and  families  to 
the  hazard  of  another  Indian  invasion.  But  the  greater 
number  removed  back  with  their  families  during  the  spring 
of  1677,  and  commenced  to  repair  the  damages  sustained 
3* 


26  HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY. 

They  found  on  their  return  little  else  but  ruin  and  desola- 
tion. Not  even  the  goods  that  had  been  secreted  could  be 
discovered.  Every  thing  showed  too  plainly,  that  havoc 
had  been  "  let  loose" — that  the  evil  spirit  of  destruction 
had  leigned  triumphant.* 

In  consideration  of  the  great  losses  sustained  by  the  inhab- 
itants, and  to  encourage  the  re-building  of  the  town,  the 


*  According  to  tradition,  the  inhabitants  when  they  fled  from  the  town  in 
1676,  secreted  many  articles  of  household  furniture  and  other  personal  estate, 
by  burying  them  in  swamps,  or  depositing  them  in  wells  which  they  attempted 
to  conceal  by  filling  or  covering  over ;  and  that  upon  their  return,  they  were 
unable  to  recover  the  articles  thus  left,  because,  such  changes  had  been 
wrought  by  the  devastation,  that  the  places  where  the  articles  had  been 
deposited  could  not  he  found. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  many  goods  were  secreted  in  this  manner, 
which,  when  sought  for  by  their  owners,  could  not  be  found.  But,  it  is  hardly 
possible  to  suppose  that  every  mark  of  locality  could,  within  the  space  of  one 
year,  have  been  so  thoroughly  effaced,  as  this  account,  to  be  true,  would 
require.  It  is,  perhaps  more  compatible  with  probability  to  suppose,  that  the 
Indians  discovered  the  places  where  the  hidden  treasures  were  deposited, 
and  that  they  destroyed  every  thing  concealed  therein  which  they  could  not 
conveniently  carry  off. 

The  recent  discovery  of  two  wells,  which  had  been  covered  over  or  filled 
up  so  long  that  history  had  lost  all  traces  of  them,  has  given  occasion  to  revive 
this  tradition,  and  lead  some  to  conjecture  that  a  portion  of  the  lost  articles 
had  been  deposited  in  them.  One  of  these  wells  is  in  the  garden  of  the  late 
Roger  Wilcox,  deceased,  at  Westover's  plain  ;  and  it  is  certainly  a  singular 
circumstance  that,  had  its  locality  been  known,  it  should  have  remained  so 
long  in  this  condition, — for  there  has  been,  for  upwards  of  a  hundred  years, 
a  house  near  it,  the  occupants  of  which,  during  all  this  time,  for  tvant  of  a 
well,  have  been  compelled  to  obtain  a  supply  of  water  from  one  at  a  distance 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  Not  far  from  this  well,  is  an  old  building 
which,  from  its  construction  as  well  as  tradition,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
erected  for  a  block-house.  It  is  now  used  as  an  appendage  to  a  barn.  In 
this  building,  was  born  Samuel  Forbes  Esq.  of  Canaan,  who  died  some  years 
since  at  an  advanced  age,  and  in  possession  of  great  wealth. 

The  other  discovered  well  is  on  the  lot  opposite  the  residence  of  the  late 
Gen.  Noah  Phelps.  It  probably  belonged  to  the  "  Minister's  house,"  which 
stood  there,  and  which  was  also,  at  times,  occupied  as  a  garrison  or  block- 
house. If  so,  and  if,  as  supposed,  the  well  was  used  by  the  tenants  of  that 
house,  it  could  not  have  been  covered  over  until  nearly  fifty  years  after  the 
burning  of  the  town,  for  the  house  was  not  demolished  until  after  1720.  The 
presumption  is  that  both  wells,  not  being  wanted  for  use,  were  covered  up, 
and  in  process  of  time  had  become  forgotten. 


HISTORY    OP     SIMSBURY.  27    ' 

General  Assembly,  at  the  May  Session  1677.  granted  liberty 
of  raising-  the  rates  for  town  charges,  and  the  support  of  the 
ministry,  for  the  three  ensuing  years,  upon  lands  only, — 
thus  taxing  non-residents  equally  with  the  residents  of  the 
town  ; — and  also  remitted,  to  all  actual  inhabitants,  the 
payment  of  Colony  taxes  for  the  period  of  three  years.* 

But  these  enactments  failed  to  accomplish  the  objects 
intended.  Many  of  the  proprietors,  including  some  of  the 
former  inhabitants,  neglected  to  take  possession  of  their 
lands,  or  to  make  any  improvements  upon  them.     This,  by 

*  "  To  the  Honoured  Generall  Assembly  now  sitting  in  Hartford. 

Honoured  Fathers. 
Wee  whose  names  are  underwritten,  the  present  inhabitants  of  Simsbury, 
haveing  bin  formerly  burthened  by  the  inequallity  of  levying  of  rates  (as  the 
case  is  circumstanced  with  us,)  and  now  through  the  late  afflictive  dispensa- 
tion of  God's  providence,  haveing  bin  greater  sufferers  than  other  plantations 
in  this  CoUony,  and  thereby  allsoe  in  some  measure  at  the  present  incapaci- 
tated to  rayse  rates  in  the  common  way  that  is  stated  in  the  country  law  :  in 
this  our  infant  state  do  humbly  request  and  desire  of  this  Honoured  Assembly 
that  they  would  be  pleased  to  graunt  us  at  the  present  that  privilidge  (which 
wee  understand  hath  been  lormerly  and  of  late  graunted  to  other  plantations 
in  their  beginning,)  viz.  that  all  rates  that  shall  be  raysed  for  the  defraying 
of  publicke  charges  may  be  levyed  onely  upon  lands  ;  the  farther  grounds  and 
reasons  of  this  our  request  wee  have  desired  Samuel  Willcockson  and  Benajah 
Holecomb  to  represent  to  your  Honours  as  our  agents  in  this  case:  Who  are 
your  very  Humble  Servants. 

May  14th :  77.  Samxtel,  Stone, 

Thomas  Barbar, 
John  Petybone, 
Joseph  Phelps, 
Peeter  Buell, 
John  Drake, 
John  Griffin, 
MiCHALL  Humphrey, 
John  Humphrey, 
JosiAH  Clark." 

General  Court,  May  Session  1G77.  ■"This  Court  upon  the  motion  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  doe  grant  that  the  people  of  Simsbury  shall  have 
liberty  to  rayse  their  rates  for  the  ministry  and  towne  charges  onely  upon 
lands  for  the  three  next  years  ensueing  this  date,  any  law  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding. And  in  regard  of  the  great  loss  that,  that  town  hath  received 
in  the  late  warr,  the  Court  have  seen  cause  to  remitt  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Simsbury  that  make  their  constant  aboad  (there,)  their  Country  rates  for  the 
three  next  years  ensueing  both  for  persons,  land  and  cattell." 


28 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 


the  actual  settlers,  was  deemed  so  injurious  to  their  rights, 
as  to  induce  them,  in  1679,  to  call  a  town  meeting,  and 
appoint  agents  to  apply  to  the  General  Assembly  for  relief. 

In  pursuance  of  this  application,  the  General  Court,  at 
the  October  session,  1679,  in  view  of  aiding  the  settlement, 
and  giving  greater  security  to  the  inhabitants  against  any 
future  invasion  of  the  Indians,  appointed  a  committee  to 
determine  where  the  proprietors  should  build  their  respective 
mansion  houses,  and  ordered  the  proprietors  to  occupy  their 
premises,  and  construct  dwelling-houses  thereon,  within 
the  space  of  six  months  after  the  decision  of  the  committee 
should  have  been  made  known.*  This  committee  in  the 
following  March,  decided  that  eleven  of  the  proprietors 
should  build  at  Captain  Newberry's,  now  Westover's  plain, — 
that  thirteen  persons,  who  had  grants  on  Salmon  brook, 
should  build  at  the  same  place,  to  whom  should  be  given 
houselots  of  three  acres  each, — that  fifteen  proprietors 
should  build  at  Hop  meadow, — four,  who  had  not  already 
houses,  at  Weatauge,  west  of  the  river,  and  thirteen  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river, — five  at  Terry's  plain, — and  nine  on 
the  east  side  of  the  mountain.  This  order  included  some 
proprietors  who  had  not  previously  erected  any  house  in  the 
town. 

Some  of  the  proprietors  having  neglected  to  comply  with 

*  "  Upon  the  petition  of  John  Terry  and  John  Case  in  behalf  of  the  town 
of  Simsbury,  that  those  who  are  proprietors  of  land  in  Simsbury  might  be 
compelled  to  com  to  their  alottments  and  settle  themselves,  or  som  other 
suitable  persons  on  their  accomadations  there ;  This  Court  having  consid- 
ered the  sayd  petition,  doe  nominate  and  appoynt  IVIajor  John  Talcott,  Mr. 
James  Richards,  Mr.  John  Wadsworth  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  or  any 
three  of  them,  to  be  a  comittee  to  take  a  view  of  the  sayd  plantation  of 
Simsbury,  and  to  appoynt  the  place  or  places  where  the  inhabitants  shall 
build  and  settle,  so  as  may  be  most  for  their  accomadation  and  safety, 
and  when  this  is  done,  all  such  persons  as  have  propriety  there,  and 
doe^  not  com  and  build  upon  their  accomadations  or  alotments,  and  setle 
some  Inhabitants  in  them  within  the  space  of  six  months  after  the  determin- 
ation of  the  sayd  comittee,  shall  forfeit  forty  shillings  pr  year  to  the  Town 
till  he  shall  Build  upon  his  sayd  accomadations  a  good  sufficient  mansion 
house  according  to  former  order  of  court,  except  any  particular  person  doe 
produce  some  grant  that  doth  free  him  from  this  injunction  formerly  granted 
by  this  Court,  or  a  committee  impowered  by  this  Court." 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  29 

the  orders  of  the  committee,  within  the  time  allowed  for 
building-,  were  prosecuted  for  the  penalties  forfeited.  They 
were  all  joined  in  one  process.  The  following-  is  a  copy  of 
the  writ. 

"  Captain  Benjamin  Newberry,  Captain  Daniele  Clark,  Quarter- 
master Bissell,  Nathaniel  Bissell,  Samuel  Bissell,  Georg  Grisowld, 
Timothy  Phelps,  Serg't  Anthony  Hoskins,  Joseph  Skinner, 
Thomas  Egglston,  Samuel  Pinney,  Aurther  Henbery,  Andrew 
Hylliard,  John  Drak.  In  his  Majesties  name,  these  are  to  require 
you,  and  every  of  you,  to  appeare  at  the  County  Court,  to  be 
holden  in  Hartford  on  the  first  thirsday  in  March  next,  and  then 
and  there  to  answer  Thomas  Barber,  one  of  the  Townsmen  in  Sims- 
bury,  and  such  other  as  they  shall  appoynt  as  a  commity,  in  behalf 
of  said  Towne  of  Simsbury,  in  their  Complaynt  made  agaenst  you 
and  every  of  you,  for  that  you  have  not  errected  mansion  houseing 
upon  your  respective  and  particular  house  lots  in  Simsbury,  accord- 
ing to  the  order  of  Court  provided  to  that  purposs,  with  the  pen- 
alty anexed  which  has  accrued,  without  payment  whereof  to  the 
Towns  usses.  You  may  notfaile  to  make  your  appearence.  Feb. 
14,  1682.     Per,  John  Talcott,  Assistant." 

One  of  the  persons  sued,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  be- 
longed to  the  committee  who  made  the  very  order,  for  trans- 
gressing which  he  was  prosecuted  !  The  power  exercised 
by  the  Assembly,  and  delegated  to  the  committee  in  this 
matter,  would,  at  the  present  day,  be  deemed  exceedingly 
unjust  and  oppressive.  But  the  proceedings,  being  in  aid 
of  the  general  welfare,  were  cheerfully  acquiesced  in,  and 
had  the  effect,  at  least  in  some  degree,  of  advancing  the 
prosperity  of  the  settlement.  Still,  the  progress  of  improve- 
ment was  slow.  The  injury  sustained  by  the  burning  of 
the  town  was  so  great  as  to  require,  in  the  then  impover- 
ished condition  of  the  people,  time  to  repair  it.  The  set- 
tlement remained  at  a  stand,  or  nearly  so,  for  about  ten 
years.  There  were  no  representatives  elected  by  the  town 
to  the  General  Assembly,  from  1675  until  1687 ;  and  there 
was  no  Colony  tax  levied  until  1689. 


CHAPTER  III. 

History  of  the  Massacoe  Indians.    Indian  Hostilities  after  Philip's  War.    Captivity  of 
Daniel  Hayes.    1648—1750. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  settlement,  the  number  of 
Indians  belong-ing-  to  Massacoe,  is  not  known,  though  it  is 
manifest  from  historical  data,  that  it  must  have  amounted 
to  several  hundreds.  Until  after  the  war  of  1676,  they 
vastly  exceeded  the  white  population.  They  are  supposed, 
originally,  to  have  been  revolters,  or  seceders,  from  other 
tribes  more  powerful,  hostile,  and  warlike,  from  whom  they 
withdrew  to  repose  in  greater  security  and  peace  in  these 
vallies.  Though  not  imbecile,  nor  cowardly,  they  clearly 
were  not  imbued  with  those  warlike  propensities,  which 
prevailed  more  generally  with  their  race  in  the  eastern  sec- 
tions of  the  Colony,  or  with  the  Mohawks,  at  the  west. 
Their  location,  as  well  as  their  peaceable  carriage,  probably 
afforded  them  some  protection  against  the  assaults  of  more 
powerful  tribes.  Between  their  settlement  and  that  of  the 
Mohawks  on  the  North  river,  there  were  none  of  their  race, 
except  a  few  weak  tribes  on  the  Housatonuc  river ;  and  at 
the  north,  there  were  none  nearer  than  Deerfield,  who  were 
particularly  distinguished  for  their  attachment  to  war.  And 
yet,  there  is  evidence  tending  to  prove  that  these  now 
peaceful  meadows  had  been  the  theater  of  war,  and  crim- 
soned with  the  blood  of  the  red  man,  long  before  they  were 
settled  by  the  English.  The  arrow-heads  found,  are  quite 
too  numerous  to  allow  the  supposition,  that  a//  of  them  could 
have  been  used  for  peaceable  purposes. 

If  the  Massacoe  Indians  belonged  to  a  distinct  tribe,  or 
tribes,  as  was  probably  the  case,  they  seem  to  have  been  in 
some  measure  tributary  to  the  Tunxus,  or  Farmington 
Indians,  and  with  them,  subject  to  some  sort  of  allegiance 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  31 

to  SoJieag,  the  sachem  of  Mattabeset,  now  Middletown,  who 
was  the  most  powerful,  of  all  the  Indian  chiefs,  in  this  part 
of  the  Colony. 

The  wigwams  of  the  Masacoes  were  npon,  or  in   the 
vicinity  of  the  meadows,  patches  of  which  were  cleared, 
and  on  which  they  cultivated  corn.     The  river,  and  brooks, 
abounding  with  fish,  and  the  forests  with  game,  furnished 
them  with  the  chief  means  of  subsistence.    When  the  white 
man  appeared,  he  was  not  only  received  with  hospitality, 
but  was  encouraged  to  settle  with  them.    He  had,  at  pleas- 
ure, their  meadows,  and  other  lands,  at  prices  so  low  as  to 
preclude   all  just  notions  of  a  valuable  consideration  paid 
for  them.    The  first  deed  from  them,  of  theMassacoe  lands, 
is  from  Manahanoose,  one  of  the  chiefs,  or  headmen,  who, 
as  before  stated,  conveyed  to  Mr.  John  Grifiin,  all  his  right 
in  these  lands,  in  consideration  of  having  destroyed,  by  fire, 
a  quantity  of  pitch  and  tar,  belonging  to  the  grantee.     At 
about  the  same  time,  there  was  given  to  Mr.  Griffin  another 
deed,  or  more  correctly  speaking,  a  contract  to  convey  to 
him  the   same   territory,   signed   by  three   other   principal 
Indians,  and  given  in  consideration  of  the  aforesaid  destruc- 
tion of  property,  and  that  the  offender,  "  their  friend,"  who 
was  in  custody,  had  been  released  and  restored  to  them. 
These  deeds,  in  1661,  were  assigned  to  a  committee  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Massacoe  plantation.     It  is  supposed  that  a 
few  other  deeds  were  given,  to  sundry  individuals,  though 
they  do  not  appear  on  record.     But  such  conveyances  were 
illegal,  being  prohibited  by  the  laws  of  the  Colony,  and 
transferred  no  title. 

The  first  purchase  of  the  right  of  soil  from  the  natives, 
by  a  formal  deed,  having  the  approbation  of  the  govern- 
ment, was  made  in  1680.  It  is  signed  by  Neschegan,  Seakets 
Totoe,  Aupes,  Manconumph,  and  three  squaws,  and  was 
approved  by  Waquaheag,  alias  Cherry,  who  was  a  Tunxus 
Indian,  and,  as  is  supposed,  a  chief  of  that  tribe, — and  con- 
veys to  "  Major  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry, 
Capt.  Daniel  Clarke,  and  Sergeant  John  Griffin,  in  behalf 
of  the  inhabitants  and  proprietors,  of  the  land  belonging  to 


32  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

the  township  of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  and  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  all  that  tract  of  land  lying  and  being 
situate  on  Farmington  bounds  southward,  and  from  thence 
to  run  ten  large  miles  northerly,  and  from  the  bounds  of 
Windsor  town,  on  the  east,  to  run  ten  large  miles  westward, 
the  tract  or  parcel  of  land  being  ten  miles  square  large." 
The  deed  contains  a  reservation  of  two  acres  of  land  to 
Mamanto,  (husband  of  one  of  the  squaws  who  had  signed 
it,)  lying  in  Weatauge,  and  to  the  grantors  and  their  heirs, 
the  right  at  all  times  "  to  hunt,  fowl  and  fish,"  on  the  con- 
veyed premises.  The  consideration,  expressed  in  the  deed, 
consists  of  the  aforesaid  conveyances  made  to  Mr.  Griffin, 
and  others,  and  "  a  valuable  sum  paid  in  full  satisfaction," 
the  amount  of  which  is  not  stated.  The  deed  is  quite  formal 
and  technical — is  witnessed  by  three  white  men,  and  five 
Indians,  duly  acknowledged,  and  is  recorded  on  the  town 
records  of  Simsbury,  and  the  State  records  at  Hartford. 
[Appendix  A.] 

The  consideration  of  this  deed,  whatever  it  was,  not  hav- 
ing been  paid  according  to  agreement,  the  Indians  pressed 
Major  Talcott  for  payment,  and,  as  stated  on  the  record, 
"  made  a  grievous  complaint  to  the  Major,  and  being  inces- 
santly urging  for  their  dues,"  the  town  "  to  still  their  accla- 
mations, and  to  bring  to  issue  the  said  case,  and  to  ease  the 
Major  of  those  vexatious  outcries,  made  by  the  Indians,  for 
their  money,"  ordered  the  sale  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  land,  to  raise  funds  by  which  to  extinguish  the  debt. 

In  February,  1689,  the  inhabitants,  apprehending  danger 
from  the  Indians,  took  measures  to  strengthen  themselves, 
by  living  more  compactly  together.  The  people  of  Hop 
meadow  proposed  to  those  living  at  the  north,  or  "  lower 
meadows,"  and  at  Salmon  brook,  to  remove  to,  and  dwell 
in  their  settlement,  offering  to  exchange  lands  with  them. 
The  offer  was  accepted,  and  many  of  these  people  removed 
to  Hop  meadow,  though  subsequently  some  of  them  returned 
to  their  former  habitations.  There  were  sixteen  persons 
who  had  entered  into  an  agreement  to  remove.  They  were 
to  build,  and  remove  their  respective  families,  within  the 


HISTORY    OP     SIMSBURY.  33 

space  of  one  year,  on  penalty  of  ten  pounds.     The  lots  set 
out  to  them  were  on  the  west  side  of  the  street. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  after  Philip's  war,  in  1675,  the 
inhabitants  lived  in  almost  daily  apprehension  of  attacks 
from  the  Indians.  The  French,  between  whom  and  the 
English  war  prevailed  during-  part  of  this  time,  and  who 
had  possession  of  Canada,  used  great  efforts  to  incite  the 
northern  Indians  to  attaciv  the  white  settlements,  situated 
on  the  frontier.  From  its  location,  Sirnsbury,  more  than 
any  other  town  in  the  Colony,  was  exposed  to  these 
invasions. 

Every  precaution,  however,  which  a  people  so  weak  in 
resources  could  adopt,  was  taken,  both  by  the  government 
and  the  town,  to  give  protection  to  the  inhabitants.     Many 
houses  were  placed  in  a  condition  of  defense,  and  some  of 
them,   at   times  of  the  greatest  alarm,  were  protected  by  a 
garrison.     Of  these  the  Bestor  house,  at  Weatauge, — the 
minister's  house  at  Hop  meadow, —  a  house  at  Westover's 
plain, — one   at  Sahnon  brook, — and  one  or  two  at  Turkey 
Hills,  are  either  known,  or  on  traditionary  evidence  are  sup- 
posed to  be  of  the  numljer.     A  supply  of  ammunition,  pro- 
cured at  the  expense  of  the  town,  was  always  kept  on  hand. 
This  ammunition,  at  one  time,  was  kept  at  a  house  which 
stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  on  the  spot  where   the 
house   of  Richard   Bacon   Esq.  now  stands,  which  was  de- 
stroyed with  all  its  contents,  by  the  accidental  burning  of 
the  house.     There  exists  record  evidence  that  the  parson- 
age house,  at  Hop  meadow,  was  fortified  in  1690,  and  also  in 
1700,  and   that  two  fortifications  were  erected  in  tJie  town, 
one  called  the  "Great   Fort,"  which  stood   on  the  plain 
north  of  Saxton's  brook,  and  another  called  "Shaw's  Fort," 
situated  about  one  mile  north  of  Salmon  brook  street.  These 
block-houses  were  probably  constructed  in  1708,  for,  in  that 
year,  the  General  Assembly  ordered  the  Committee  of  War 
to  erect  two  garrisons  in  Simsbury,  at  the  charge  of  the  Col- 
ony, and  supply  them  "  with  men  and  provisions,"  as  there 
should  be  occasion.     In  1707,  there  was  an  alarm  spread 
that  the  Indians  contemplated   an  invasion  of  the  town, 
4 


34  HISTORY    OF     SIMSBURY. 

when  the  Assembly  granted  seven  pounds,  from  the  treas- 
ury, to  fortify  it ;  and  the  next  year,  a  further  grant  of  seven 
pounds  six  shillings  was  made,  to  pay  the  soldiers  belonging 
to  Simsbury,  who  had  been  emplo3^ed  under  Capt.  John 
Higley,  in  the  public  service.* 

The  last  alarm  was  in  1724.  The  conduct  of  the  Indians 
at  the  north  and  west  during  this  year,  and  especially  their 
hostile  movements  in  the  vicinity  of  Litchfield,  induced  the 
government  to  take  such  precautionary  measures  as  the 
occasion  demanded,  in  order  to  furnish  protection  to  the 
weak  and  exposed  settlements.  Aline  of  scouts  was  estab- 
lished, extending  from  Litchfield  to  Turkey  Hills,  curving 
around  the  most  northerly  and  westerly  settlements  in 
Simsbury. 

On  the  4th  of  June  1724,  Captain  Richard  Case,  of  this 
town,  was  directed  to  employ  ten  men  on  this  scouting 
party,  to  rendezvous  at  Litchfield.  The  men  employed  in 
this  service,  were  sergeant  Jonathan  Holcomb,  John  Hill, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb,  Joseph  Mills,  William  Buell,  Samuel 
Pettibone,  Joseph  Wilcoxson,  Benajah  Humphrey, Nathan- 
iel Westover,  and  Charles  Humphrey ; — all  belonging  to 
Simsbury.  They  continued  in  the  service  until  early  in 
October.  On  the  24th  of  September,  "  captain  Sprague 
with  22  sentinels  joined  the  scout  at  Simsbury."  Another 
force  of  eighteen  men  was  employed  in  the  summer  "  to 
join  the  grand  scout." 

*  Just  previous  to  this,  the  Council  of  War,  in  February,  1707,  passed  the 
following  resolutions. 

"  Resolved,  for  the  preservation  of  the  frontier  townes  of  Symsbury,  Water- 
bury,  Woodbury  and  Danbury,  that  order  be  sent  to  the  Inhabitants  of  those 
townes  to  provide,  with  all  possible  speed,  a  sufficient  number  of  well  forti- 
fied houses,  for  the  saftie  of  themselves  and  families,  in  their  respective 
townes;  The  houses  for  fortifications  to  be  appointed  by  the  vote  of  the  major 
part  of  the  Inhabitants  of  such  respective  townes  assembled,  if  they  can 
agree, — in  case  of  their  disagreement,  to  be  appointed  by  the  commission 
officers  of  the  towne." 

"  The  scouts  in  Symsbury  to  be  appointed  and  directed  by  the  Major  of  the 
Countie.     The  charges  to  be  borne  by  the  Countie,  as  by  law  is  provided." 

"  Two  fiithful  and  trusty  men,  as  a  scout  to  be  out  every  day,  to  observe 
the  motions  of  the  enemy." 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  35 

During  this  summer,  "  a  garrison"  was  constructed  at 
Turkey  Hills.  In  July,  nine  men  were  sent  to  man  it,  and 
subsequently  a  larger  force,  for  the  record  of  the  Council  of 
War  (from  which  the  above  quotations  are  made)  specifies 
that  "thirty  men,  who  had  been  sent  to  garrison  at  Sims- 
bury,"  were  ordered  to  be  disbanded  in  September.  On 
the  12th  of  July,  there  was  "  an  alarm  at  Turkey  Hills," 
of  a  nature  so  serious,  as  to  induce  the  Council  to  send  there? 
forty-one  soldiers  from  Windsor,  and  twenty-six  from  Hart- 
ford. It  does  not  appear  however  that  there  was  any  sub- 
stantial ground  to  apprehend  immediate  danger,  for  these 
troops  were  dismissed  after  one  day's  service. 

These  pfecautionary  measures  were  wisely  taken.  Stroll- 
ing parties  of  Indians  had  been  lurking  about  the  settle- 
ments during  most  part  of  the  season,  with  the  intention, 
evidently,  of  subjecting  the  weak  and  defenseless  to  the 
cruelties  of  their  accustomed  modes  of  warfare.  They  were 
prevented,  however,  by  the  prompt  and  efficient  action  of 
the  government,  from  inflicting  any  general  or  extensive 
injury. 

Although  this  was  the  last  time  when  danger  was  seri- 
ously apprehended  from  the  Indians,  it  was  not  until  after 
the  lapse  of  some  years,  that  the  people  felt  themselves  in 
perfect  security,  or  could  entirely  overcome  that  fear  which 
the  nursery  tales  of  the  times  had  kept  alive  long  after  all 
real  danger  had  passed  away. 

With  the  exception  of  some  petty  thefts,  or  trespasses,  it 
is  not  known  that  the  whites  were  ever  materially  injured 
by  the  Massacoe  Indians,  at  least  by  that  portion  of  them 
who  continued  to  reside  in  the  plantation.  The  burning  of 
the  town  in  1676,  as  before  stated,  was  the  act  of  noithern 
tribes,  in  which  the  Massacoe  Indians,  it  is  believed,  did  not 
participate.  In  this,  as  well  as  in  subsequent  wars  during 
that  century,  all  the  Indians  residing  in  the  then  county  of 
Hartford,  which  included  nearly  one  half  of  the  Colony, 
joined  the  English  by  treaty  stipulations,  and  proved  them- 
selves not  only  true  to  their  engagements,  but  serviceable 
as  allies,  and  warriors.     It  is  on  record  thnf,  during  the  war 


36 


HISTORY      OP    SIMSBURY. 


which  commenced  in  1675,  no  Indian  belonging  to  the 
county,  had  been  convicted  of  any  atrocious  offence,  com- 
mitted against  the  white  population.  But,  the  latter  could 
not,  and  did  not,  rest  in  security.  They  were  exposed  to 
sudden  unforeseen  attacks,  and  knew  enough  of  the  Indian 
character,  to  fear,  if  not  to  expect,  treachery  when  help  was 
most  needed. 

The  Massacoe  Indians  continued  to  reside  with  their  new 
neighbors  in  harmony.  But,  their  proximity  to  these  settle- 
ments did  not  improve  their  condition,  nor  add  to  their  hap- 
piness. The  more  bold  and  enterprizing  portion  of  them, 
left  for  new  habitations  in  distant  forests,  far  from  the 
encroachments  of  the  white  man.  Many  fied  to  the  Housa- 
tonuc  valley,  at  the  breaking  out  of  Philip's  war.  From 
these  and  other  well  known  causes,  their  numbers  were  so 
diminished,  that  before  the  lapse  of  many  years,  they  had 
become  a  small,  and  inefficient  band.  There  were  a  few 
families  remaining  after  1710.  One,  possessed  a  few  acres 
of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  near  the  south  line  of 
the  town,  some  years  after  this.  About  1750,  or  within  a 
few  years  thereafter,  the  last  vestige  of  the  race  disappeared 
from  the  town. 

Of  Indian  names,  but  few  are  now  known.  Massacoe, 
and  Tunxus,  have  become  nearly  obsolete.  Weatauge, 
which,  fortunately,  has  been  retained, — and  a  brook,  within 
the  present  limits  of  Canton,  which  derives  its  name  from 
an  Indian  chieftain,  Cherry,* — are  the  only  ones  preserved, 
to  remind  us  of  the  former  owners  and  possessors  of  this 
soil. 

The  natives  had  a  place  of  sepulchre,  near  the  house  of 
the  late  Col.  James  Cornish.  When  the  cellar  of  this  house 
was  excavated,  a  large  number  of  human  bones  were  dis- 
covered. Tradition  says,  that  another  place  was  used  for 
this  purpose,  on  a  patch  of  rising  ground  in  the  rear  of  the 
house  of  Mrs.  T.  L.  Bissell. 

Arrow-heads  have  been  found,  very  frequently,  in  all 

*  Cherry  was  a  name  given  him  by  the  English.     His  Indian  name  was 
JVaquaheag. 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 


37 


parts  of  the  meadows  where  the  lands  have  heen  cultivated 
by  the  plow.  It  is  not  uncommon,  at  the  present  day,  to 
find  them.  Other  relics  too,  have  beenfound,  occasionally, 
consisting  of  articles  used  in  war,  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil,  and  for  domestic  purposes.  In  the  meadows,  westerly 
of  the  house  of  Richard  Bacon  Esq.,  such  implements  have 
often  been  discovered.  Within  a  few  years.  Col.  Aurora 
Case,  in  plowing  a  new  field,  lying  westerly  of  Mr.  Robert 
J.  McRoy's  house,  (formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Stephen 
Terry,)  found  a  stone  mortar,  and  pestle,  of  Indian  work- 
manship, used  for  pounding  corn,  which  have  been  depos- 
ited in  the  archives  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society. 

During  the  Indian  disturbances  in  1707,  one  of  those 
events  occurred,  which,  whenever  they  happened,  spread 
terror  and  consternation  throughout  the  infant  settlements, 
and  overwhelmed,  with  the  deepest  agony,  the  family  con- 
nections of  the  sufferers. 

In  the  fall  of  1707,  Daniel  Hayes,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years,  was  taken  by  the  Indians  and  carried  captive  into 
Canada.  He  resided  at  Salmon  brook,  now  the  central  part 
of  Granby,  which,  being  at  that  time  the  northern  point  of 
settlement  in  the  town,  was  peculiarly  exposed  to  sudden 
invasionsby  the  Indians.  The  circumstances  attending  this 
transaction,  as  preserved  by  tradition,  are  as  follows.* 

Some  two  or  three  years  before  Hayes  was  taken,  he  was 
at  a  house-raising  in  Weatauge,  when,  very  inconsiderately, 
and  out  of  mere  wanton  sport,  he  cut  oflT  the  tail  of  a  dog 
belonging  to  an  Indian,  who,  a  stranger  and  entirely 
unknown,  happened  to  be  present.  The  master  of  the  dog, 
though  he  uttered  no  complaint,  manifested  such  emotions 
of  ill  will  and  revenge,  that  Hayes,  before  they  separated, 

*  The  materials  from  which  this  account  is  compiled,  were  obligingly  com^ 
municated  to  the  author  by  Samuel  H.  Woodruff  and  Ardon  B.  Holcomb 
Esq'rs,  of  Granby.  Of  the  general  correctness  of  the  narrative,  no  reasonable 
doubt  can  be  entertained,— as  the  facts  have  been  derived,  not  only  from  the 
descendants  of  Mr.  Hayes,  but  also  from  several  aged  people,  all  of  whom 
concur  in  their  statements  regarding  the  main  and  important  features  of  the 
transaction. 


38  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

deemed  it  prudent  for  himself,  to  attempt  to  pacify  him. 
He  sought  therefore  a  reconciliation,  by  proposing  to  drink 
together,  and  offered,  moreover,  reparation  for  the  injury. 
But  the  Indian  rejected  all  overtures,  and  left  the  ground, 
evidently  in  a  surly  and  unreconciled  mood  of  mind,  and, 
probably,  with  malice  and  revenge  deeply  impressed  upon 
his  heart.  Nothing  afterwards  being  heard  of  the  Indian 
or  his  dog,  the  circumstance,  in  a  short  time,  if  not  forgot- 
ten, became  unheeded.  But,  the  events  which  follow  were 
supposed  to  result  from  this  affair.* 

On  the  evening  before  his  capture,  there  was  a  corn  husk- 
ing party  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hayes,  when,  in  the  course  of 
conversation,  he  remarked  that  early  in  the  ensuing  morn- 
ing, he  should  endeavor  to  find  his  horse,  which  was  feed- 
ing in  the  forests,  and,  as  supposed,  westerly  of  the  settle- 
ment. This  conversation,  as  appears  from  the  sequel,  was 
overheard  by  Indians,  who  were,  at  that  time,  lurking  about 
the  house,  and  who,  it  is  supposed,  from  the  information 
thus  obtained,  devised  their  plans  of  operation  for  the  next 
morning. 

After  the  family  had  retired  and  were  asleep,  they  were 
awakened  by  the  barking  of  their  dog,  which  manifested  so 
much  uneasiness  as  to  induce  Mr.  Hayes  to  leave  his  bed, 
and,  with  his  dog,  to  seek  for  the  cause.  Supposing  the 
disturbance  to  have  proceeded  from  the  incin^sion  of  cattle 
into  the  corn-field  contiguous  to  his  house,  (an  ordinarj^ 
occurrence  in  those  days,)  and  finding  it  unmolested,  he 
again  sought  repose  in  sleep.  But  the  dog  continued 
restive,  and  plainly  made  known,  by  his  conduct,  that  there 
was  something  wrong  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  house. 


*  Thus  goes  the  story.  But  the  author  must  be  allowed  to  say,  for  him- 
self, that  he  very  much  doubts  whether  this  afl'air  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
capture  of  Hayes,  which  took  place  some  years  afterwards.  The  Indians,  it 
is  well  known,  were  incited  to  such  deeds  by  the  French  in  Canada,  to  whom 
they  carried  their  captives,  and  by  whom,  as  is  supposed,  they  were  rewarded 
for  the  service.  The  more  correct  supposition  probably  is,  that  the  captors 
came  into  this  weak  settlement,  to  sieze  and  carry  off  any  person  who  might 
be  thrown  in  their  way,  and  that  they  would  have  taken  as  readily  any  other 
person  as  Hayes,  if  an  opportunity,  equally  as  favorable,  had  occurred. 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  39 

The  next  morning-,  at  an  early  hour,  Mr.  Hayes,  taking 
with  him  a  bridle,  proceeded  into  the  forests  to  find  his 
horse.  His  route  led  him  to  pass  Stoney  hill,  a  ridge  of 
land  stretching  north  and  south  about  eighty  rods  westerly  of 
Salmon  brook  street.  Upon  turning-  round  the  south  point 
of  this  hill,  he  was  seized  by  three  Indians  who  sprang  upon 
him  from  an  ambush  where  they  had  secreted  themselves 
from  view.  So  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  came  this 
attack  upon  Hayes,  that  he  was  deprived  of  all  power  to 
make  resistance,  or  even  any  attempt  to  escape.  One 
Indian  seized  him  by  the  throat — another,  enjoined  silence 
by  putting  a  hand  over  liis  moutli — whilst  the  other,  with  a 
tomahawk  raised  over  his  head,  enforced  obedience  and 
submission.  They  immediately  bound  his  hands  at  his 
back  with  the  throat-latch  of  the  bridle,  and,  with  their 
captive,  hastily  left  the  place,  taking  their  course  in  a  noi  th- 
em direction. 

Another  account  states  that  Hayes  was  accompanied  by  a 
Mr.  Lamson,  who,  being  an  agile  and  athletic  man,  outran 
the  Indians  and  effected  his  escape — that  the  number  of 
Indians,  belonging  to  the  party,  amounted  to  five  or  more  ;. 
and  that  the  transaction  was  witnessed  by  a  Mrs.  Holcomb, 
wife  of  a  Mr.  Nathaniel  Holcomb,  who  was  in  the  fields 
that  morning  milking,  but  who, from  considerations  relating 
to  her  own  safety,  was  deterred  from  returning  home,  or 
giving  an  alarm,  until  the  Indians  with  their  captive  had 
left  the  place. 

Very  soon,  however,  the  usual  alarm  was  spread,  and  a 
force  was  raised  sufllcient  to  make  pursuit.  Immediate 
effort  was  made  to  relieve  the  captive,  and  punish  the 
aggressors.  And  notice  of  the  calamity  having  been  sent 
to  Windsor,  a  larger  force  came  from  that  town  to  the 
rescue.  The  route  taken  by  the  Indians  was  found  and 
traced,  and,  at  times,  the  marks  of  their  tracks  appeared  so 
fresh,  that  strong  hopes  were  entertained  of  overtaking 
them.  But,  their  superior  cunning  in  such  exploits,  with 
their  flectness  in  passing  through  the  wilderness,  enabled 
them  to  avoid  their  pursuers,  and  escape  with  their  prisoner. 


40  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

In  the  mean  time  Hayes,  knowing  that  any  symptoms  of 
lag-g-ing-  on  his  part  would  probably  cost  him  his  life,  and 
supposing,  moreover,  that  in  no  event  would  his  captors,  if 
closely  pursued,  suffer  him  to  live,  exerted  himself  to  keep 
up  with  them.  And  he  soon  found  he  could  do  this  without 
much  fatigue,  for  he  was  robust,  and  accustomed  to  such 
traveling.  On  one  occasion,  during  this  journey,  when  his 
companions  wished  to  test  hisfleetness,  he  outstripped  them 
so  far  that  they  were  on  the  point  of  shooting  him  to  stop 
his  progress.  He  might  then  have  escaped,  as  he  after- 
wards said,  "  if  he  had  had  his  thoughts  about  him." 

On  the  first  night  after  his  capture,  the  party  encamped 
at  the  foot  of  Sodom  mountain.  He  was  secured,  during 
the  night,  by  being  placed  upon  his  back,  with  each  arm 
and  ancle  strongly  fastened  to  a  sapling,  and  with  sticks  so 
crossing  his  body  as  to  be  lain  upon  by  an  Indian  on  each 
side.  He  passed  most  of  the  nights,  bound  in  this  manner, 
during  his  long  march  to  Canada.  On  the  second  day,  the 
party  crossed  Connecticut  river,  by  fording  and  swimming, 
and  spent  the  ensuing  night  at  the  base  of  Mount  Holyoke. 

In  this  manner,  they  proceeded  from  day  to  day,  up  the 
valley  of  Connecticut  river  and  through  the  wilderness,  on 
their  route  to  Canada.  Many  incidents  occurred,  which 
Hayes  used  to  relate.  One  evening,  the  little  savages, 
belonging  to  a  village  where  the  party  had  stopped, 
annoyed  him  by  tickling  his  feet  as  he  lay  before  a  fire  with 
his  arms  pinioned  as  usual.  Bearing  this  annoyance  as 
long  as  his  patience  would  allow,  he  attempted  to  get  rid  of 
his  tormentors  by  using  his  feet  in  self-defense — during 
which  process,  some  of  them  were  kicked  into  the  fire.  He 
expected  nothing  short  of  death  for  this  aggression,  but  was 
agreeably  surprised  when  the  fathers  of  the  burnt  children, 
instead  of  offering  violence,  patted  him  on  his  shoulders 
and  exclaimed  "  boon !  "* 

*If  this  word  is  correctly  handed  down,  it  was  intended  probably,  for  the 
French  word  bon,  and  used  on  this  occasion  to  express  approbation.  The 
northern  Indians,  at  this  time,  were  in  the  habit  of  using  a  few  words  derived 
irorsv  the  French. 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  41 

They  were  nearly  thirty  days  on  this  journey,  during  all 
which  time  the  sufferinofs  of  poor  Hayes  were  excessive,  and 
almost  without  intermission.  Subjected  to  hard  toil  through 
each  day,  with  no  sustenance  save  what  the  forests  and 
rivers  furnished,  and  deprived  at  night  of  rest,  by  the  man- 
ner of  binding  his  limbs,  he  had  that  to  sustain  which,  in 
most  cases,  would  have  brought  the  sufferer  to  the  grave. 
But  Hayes,  if  he  must  be  a  victim,  determined  that  he  at 
least  would  not  voluntarily  contribute  to  hastenthe  sacrifice. 
He  possessed  that  happy  faculty  of  making,  at  all  times,  the 
best  of  his  condition.  His  cheerfulness,  though  assumed — 
his  ability  to  endure  fatigue  and  hardships — andhis  apparent 
stoical  indifference  to  his  fate,  secured  the  good  opinion  of 
his  comrades,  and  tended  to  lighten  his  burdens,  and,  possi- 
bly, to  prolong  his  life.  Indulgence  in  despondency  could 
bring  no  relief,  and  would,  as  he  well  knew,  but  render 
more  bitter  the  cup  of  his  afflictions.  He  very  wisely 
therefore  made  up  his  mind  "  to  make  a  virtue  of  neces- 
sity," by  submitting  with  the  best  possiblegrace  to  that  fate 
which  he  too  well  knew  awaited  him. 

The  Indians  told  him,  on  the  journey,  of  their  lying 
about  his  house  on  the  night  before  he  was  taken,  and  of 
iheir  overhearing  the  conversation  relating  to  his  intention 
to  proceed,  on  the  next  morning,  into  the  wilderness  to  find 
his  horse;  which  information, thus  obtained,  induced  them 
to  lie  in  wait  atStoney  hill  in  order  to  capture  him.  They 
also  told  him  that  they  had  been  lurking  about  the  settle- 
ment some  days,  seeking  an  opportunity  to  secure  a  captive, 
or  commit  some  other  depredation. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  great  Indian  encampment  on 
the  borders  of  Canada,  the  prisoner  was  delivered  over  to 
the  council  of  the  nation,  to  be  disposed  of  as  they  should 
adjudge.  By  their  decision,  he  was  doomed  to  undergo  the 
painful  ordeal  of  ^^  running  the  gaunlletP  Being  stripped 
to  his  skin,  and  annointed  according  to  custom,  he  com- 
menced the  course  ;  and  after  many  flagellations  and  hard 
knocks  received,  when  approaching  near  the  end  of  the 
line,  being  exhausted  and  faint,  he  bolted  from  the  course  to 


4.«  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

avoid  a  blow  from  an  upraised  war  club,  and  sought  safety 
by  fleeing-  into  a  wigwam,  at  the  door  of  which  sat  a  super- 
annuated and  infirm  squaw.  He  was  pursued,  but  the 
squaw  proclaimed  the  house  sacred,  and  its  inmates  pro- 
tected from  injury.  By  her  intercession,  and  especially  by 
the  deference  paid  to  a  place  thus  sanctified  according  to  the 
rites  of  Indian  superstition,  "  the  appetite  of  the  savage 
for  blood  was  stayed." 

The  squaw,  whose  husband  and  only  son  had  fallen  in 
war,  claimed  the  captive,  and  adopted  him  as  her  son.  She 
was  destitute,  and  so  infirm  as  to  be  unable  to  walk. 
Hayes,  in  addition  to  minor  duties,  was  compelled  to  provide 
for  her  sustenance  and  fuel.  He  administered  to  her  wants, 
and  devoted  to  her  the  kindest  attentions, — and  she,  in 
return,  evinced  her  gratitude,  by  calling  him  her  son  !  He 
lived  in  this  family  about  five  years  ;  and  although,  during 
this  time,  he  fared  better,  perhaps,  than  most  Indian  cap- 
tives, yet  existence,  in  his  then  condition,  had  for  him  but 
few  charms,  and  the  future  unveiled  to  his  view  no  cheering 
prospect.  He  was  in  bondage,  compelled  to  adopt  the 
customs  and  modes  of  life  of  savages,  and  was  deprived  of 
almost  every  comfort  deemednecessary  by  civilized  people. 
Besides,  he  could  entertain  no  reasonable  hope  of  being 
restored  to  his  home  and  kindred — and  more  than  all,  his 
life  was  at  the  mercy,  whim,  or  caprice,  of  savage  masters. 

One  of  the  tasks  imposed  upon  him,  in  the  winter 
season,  was  to  draw  upon  a  sled  his  Indian  mother  to  such 
places  as  she  wished  to  visit,  and  especially  to  the  feasts 
and  council  assemblages  of  her  tribe.  ■  Upon  occasion  of  a 
"  dog  feast  "  which,  by  the  usages  of  her  people,  all  were 
expected  to  attend,  he  proceeded  with  her,  in  this  manner, 
until,  ascending  a  hill  which  was  steep  and  slippery,  he 
found  his  strength,  when  put  to  its  utmost  power,  barely 
adequate  to  make  any  headway.  By  perseverance  and 
exertion  however,  he  was  enabled  to  reach  nearly  the  sum- 
mit of  the  hill,  when  he  slipped  and  fell  ;  and  either  by 
design,  or  inability  to  hold  on,  left  the  sled  with  its  mortal 
load,  to  find  the  bottom  of  the  declivity  without  a  pilot — 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  43 

secretly  wishing-,  no  doubt,  that  her  appetite  for  riding- would 
be  cured  by  this  trip.  In  this  perilous  adventure,  the  sled 
struck  a  stump  near  the  foot  of  the  hill,  which  capsized  the 
squaw,  who  was  severely  injured  by  the  fall.  Whether  an 
accident  or  not,  Hayes  professed  much  sorrow  for  the  disas- 
ter, and  managed  the  affair  so  adroitly,  that  he  escaped 
every  imputation  of  blame,  and  continued  to  retain  the 
confidence  and  good  opinion  of  the  Indians. 

Shortly  after  this  event,  he  was  sold  to  a  Frenchman  in 
Montreal,  through  the  agency,  it  is  said  of  a  Papist  priest. 
His  new  master  was  kind,  and  allowed  him  many  of 
the  necessaries,  with  some  of  the  luxuries,  of  life,  of  which 
he  had  been  so  long  deprived.  Learning  that  Hayes  was  by 
trade  a  weaver,  he  started  him  in  this  business,  and  by 
allowing  him  a  share  of  the  profits,  Hayes  was  enabled,  in 
the  course  of  about  two  years,  to  earn  money  enough  to 
purchase  his  freedom.  The  good  Frenchman  not  only 
emancipated  him,  but  supplied  him  with  clothes,  provis- 
ions, and  a  half  breed  guide  to  conduct  him  safely  through 
the  warring  tribes  on  his  journey  homeward.  The  guide 
proceeding  with  him  as  far  as  Mount  Holyoke,  pointed  out 
to  him  the  smokes  of  his  friends,  "  the  pale  faces,"  wished 
him  a  happy  return  to  his  family,  and  departed,  in  another 
direction,  to  wend  his  way  back  to  Canada.  In  about 
twenty-five  days  after  leaving  Montreal,  Hayes  had  the 
happiness  to  reach  his  home,  and  to  exchange  hearty  greet- 
ings and  congratulations  with  his  friends,  to  whom  he 
appeared  almost  "  as  one  raised  from  the  dead." 

Thus,  after  an  absence  of  about  seven  years,  the  captive 
was  restored  to  freedom,  a  home  and  a  happy  circle  of 
relatives  and  friends.  He  had  heard  nothing  from  his 
family  since  his  capture,  nor  had  they  received  any  tidings 
of  hirn,  though  they  either  knew,  or  had  good  reason  to 
suppose,  that  he  had  been  taken  and  carried  off  by  the 
Indians.  His  friends  had  flattered  themselves,  for  a  long 
while,  that  he  would  be  spared  to  return  to  them,  but  his 
long  absence  had  extinguished  every  vestige  of  hope,  and 
he  had  for  some  time  been  given  up  as  lost. 


44  HISTORY     OF    SIMSBURY. 

With  buoyant  spirits,  renovated  courage  and  unshaken 
resolution,  he  set  himself  to  the  task  of  making-  up  for  the 
lost  time  he  had  spent  with  the  Indians.  His  constitution, 
naturally  robust,  had  suffered  nothing  by  his  long  captivity, 
and  his  ambition  had  lost  none  of  its  fire.  He  married, 
settled  down  upon  a  farm,  and  within  a  short  time,  became 
a  thriving  agriculturist.  In  1720,  he  built  a  house  which 
is  now  standing,  and  is  the  oldest  building  in  town.  It  is 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  Salmon  brook  street,  in  the 
lower  or  southern  part  of  the  street,  and  is  at  present  owned 
by  Mr.  Henry  Gillett.  .In  this  house,  religious  meetings 
were  held  during  some  four  or  five  years  before  the  erection 
of  the  first  meeting  house  in  that  society,  in  1743. 

Mr.  Hayes  became  a  prominent  citizen,  was  often  em- 
ployed in  civil  affairs,  and  during  many  years,  was  a  pillar 
in  the  church  at  Salmon  brook,  of  which  he  was  a  member 
at  its  organization.  He  lived  to  see  the  infant  settlement, 
so  long  exposed  to  Indian  barbarities,  a  populous  village, 
with  no  crafty  enemy  to  disturb  its  repose,  and  strong 
enough,  had  danger  existed,  to  protect  its  inhabitants  from 
plunder  or  capture.  But,  long  before  his  death,  all  Indian 
difficulties  had  ceased. 

He  died  in  1756,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  at  the  north  end  of  the  village.  A 
red  free-stone  monument  marks  the  spot  of  his  last  resting- 
place,  on  which  is  inscribed  the  following  epitaph : 

HERE    LIES,   YE    BODY    OF 

Mr.    DANIEL   HAYES, 

Who  served  his  Generation  in  steady  course  of  Probity  and  Piety, 

and  was  a  lover  of  Peace,  and  God's  Public  Worship  ; 

And  being  satisfied  with  Long  life, 

left  this  world  with  a  Comfortable  Hope  of  life  Eternal, 

Sept.  3d,  1756, 

in  ye  71  year  of  his  Age. 


CHAPITER    IV. 

Location  and  ereetion  of  the  First  Meeting  House.    Employment  and  Settlement  of 
Clergymen.     I(j71— 17-25. 

The  first  settlers  took  early  measures  to  establish  a  minis- 
try, and  erect  a  house  for  public  worship.  With  them,  these 
were  objects  of  high  regard  and  duty.  Nearly  their  first 
care  was  to  provide  for  the  regular  administration  of  the 
ministry;  to  obtain  which,  they  assumed  burdens  which,  in 
the  infancy  of  the  settlement,  they  were  but  poorly  able  to 
bear. 

As  early  as  1671,  the  town  adopted  measures  to  build  a 
meeting  house.  All  ecclesiastical  affairs,  it  should  be  recol- 
lected, were  at  this  time,  and  until  the  town  was  divided 
into  several  societies,  nearly  seventy  years  afterwards,  man- 
aged in  town  meetings.  A  contract  was  entered  into  with 
Mr.  Thomas  Barber,  a  carpenter,  to  erect  the  building. 
But  a  difficulty  soon  arose,  concerning  its  location,  which 
retarded  the  work  many  years,  though  the  timber  for  the 
building  had  been  procured  and  framed  before  the  war  of 
1675.  The  controversy  was  the  same  as  that  which,  many 
years  afterwards,  caused  so  much  excitement  among  the 
people,  and  arose  from  the  question  whether  the  house 
should  be  placed  on  the  east  or  west  side  of  the  river.  The 
town  had  once  voted  to  place  the  building  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river — at  another  meeting,  at  Hop  meadow,  near  the 
dwelling-house  of  the  late  Gen.  Phelps;  and  then  again  to 
submit  the  question  to  Mr.  Stone,  the  clergyman,  for  a  decis- 
ion, who  decided  in  favor  of  Hop  meadow,  but  at  still 
another  place. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
finding  that  they  coukl  not  settle  the  question  among  them- 
selves, agreed  to  leave  the  matter  with  Major  Talcott  and 
5 


46  HISTORY    OF     SIMSBURY. 

Capt.  AUyn,  the  Secretary,  for  a  decision.  These  gentlemen, 
decided  in  favor  of  Hop  meadow,  the  house  to  be  placed  in 
front  of  the  burying-  ground,  and  advised  the  people  "  to  a 
cheerful,  loving  compliance  and  condescendency,  one  unto 
another,  in  joining  together  in  the  building  of  a  house  for 
the  public  worship  of  Godjn  that  place."* 

But  this  decision  did  not  suit  the  majority,  and  it  was 
rejected  at  a  town  meeting  by  eighteen  votes  against  twelve. 
Finally,  it  was  mutually  agreed  by  the  inhabitants  to  settle 
the  question  bij  lot.  This  agreement  was  reduced  to  writing, 
and  with  the  subsequent  proceedings  were  placed  upon  the 
public  records.     They  are  as  follows: 

"  May  ye  7th  1683.  Whereas,  there  has  been  a  difference  ari- 
sing amongst  us,  concerning  ye  selling  the  place  of  ye  meeting- 
house ;  that  a  setled  peace  may  be  obtained  amongst  us,  to  ye 
glory  of  God,  and  comfort  of  ourselves  and  ours,  we  whose  names 
are  underwritten,  do  so  agree  and  apoint,  as  soon  as  may  be  com- 
fortably be  obtained,  a  day  solemnly  to  meet  togeaiher,  in  a  solemn 
manner,  to  cast  lots  for  ye  place  where  ye  meeting  house  shall 
stand  ; — the  places  nominated  are  two — at  hop-meadow,  at  ye 
place  where  ye  Major  pitcht  ye  stake,  the  other  place  on  ye  east 
side  of  ye  river,  at  ye  nap  at  ye  southerly  end  of  Terrye's  plain, 
southerly  side  of  ye  little  springy  place  where  ye  spring  issues  out 
of  ye  ground  neer  against  Samuel  Pinneye's  land  ; — and  where  ye 
providence  of  God  casts  it,  so  to  sitt  down  contented  ;  and  that  ye 
present  bargain  and  building  indented  vs^ith  Thomas  Barber  shall 
stand,  and  building  at  ye  Towns  charge  to  be  transported  and  set 
up  at  the  place  ye  providence  of  God,  by  lot,  shall  cast  it. 

Joshua  Holcomb,  Nicolas  Gozar, 

John  Case  Senr,  Nicolas  Evens, 

Michall  Humphris,  Andrew  Hillver, 

Simon  Mills,  Jeremiah  Gillett, 

John  Moses,  Eleazer  Hill, 

John  Pettibone  Senr,  Samuel  Humphris, 

John  Terry,  John  Williams, 

Joseph  Phelps,  George  Sanders, 

Arthur  Henbery,  William  Persons, 

John  Slater,  Samuel  Willson, 

*  It  would  seem  that  Major  Talcott,  who,  for  many  years,  had  much  to  do 
with  the  affairs  of  the  town,  had  previously  to  this  time,  been  called  out, 
either  by  request  of  the  people  of  the  town  or  by  appointment  of  the  General 
Court,  to  fix  the  site  of  the  meeting  house;  and  that  he  had  established  its 
location  on  the  west  side  of  the  river^     But  his  decision  was  not  acquiesced  in. 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  47 

John  Humphris,  Ebenezer  Parsons, 

Luke  Hill,  Joseph  Persons, 

Daniel  Adams,  Thomas  GrifFen, 

John  Griffen,  Richard  Seger, 

Samuel  Persons,  Elias  Gillet, 

Edward  Pearce,  JosiahOwen, 

To  ye  Worshipful!  Maj.  Talcott  and  Capt  Allyn— we  ye  Inhab- 
itants of  Simsbury,  being  mett  May  ye  7th  1683,  have  concluded 
as  is  here  written,  are  desirous  that  you  would  be  pleased  to  give 
your  aprobation  of  ye  same. 

Pr.  John  Slater,  Register. 

May  8,  1683.  The  above  written  agreement  of  ye  above  sd  is 
well  approved  by, 

John  Talcott, 
John  Allyn. 

At  a  solemn  meeting  on  May  24,  1683— whereas  there  is  two 
papers  put  into  ye  hatt ;  one  east,  and  ye  other  for  ye  west  side 
of  the  River,  for  ye  decision  of  ye  two  places  formerly  nominated. 
It  is  now  agreed,  that  ye  first  paper  that  is  drawn  shall  be  the  lott 

this  voted.     The  Jott  that  came  forth  was  for  ye  west  side  of  ye 

River. 

Memorandum.  These  papers  that  ware  written  for  ye  lott, 
w-ere  written  by  Joshua  Holcomb  ; — ye  lott  drawn,  which  was  ye 
decision  of  ye  controversy,  was  drawn  by  William  Parsons,  men 
living  both  on  ye  east  side  ye  River."* 

All  cheerfully  submitted  to  this  decision,  and  the  house 
was  speedily  erected  and  covered  in.  It  was  twenty-eight 
by  twenty-four  feet,  with  fourteen  feet  posts,  and,  for  about 
two  years,  was  left  wholly  unfinished  inside.  In  1685,  a 
floor  was  put  in,  seats  or  benches  furnished,  and  a  pulpit 
built.  In  1696  the  building  was  ceiled,  and  supplied,  for 
the  first  time,  with  windows  and  a  gallery.     It  was  never 

*This  list  of  names,  containing  thirty-two  persons,  comprised,  it  is  believed, 
all  the  legal  voters  of  the  town  in  1683.  Of  these,  Arthur  Henbury  removed 
to  Hartford  about  1691,  where  he  died  without  male  issue.  John  Williams 
owned  the  farm  now  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of  Salmon  Eno,  deceased.  He 
died,  or  left  the  place,  before  1700.  George  Saunders  bought  the  Wolcott 
farm  about  1681,  which  he  a  few  years  afterwards  sold  to  John  Higley,  and 
left  the  town.  The  name  of  Samuel  Wilson  does  not  appear  after  1694. 
Joseph  Parsons,  (here  spelt  Persons,)  died  in  1687.  Samuel  and  Ebenezer 
Parsons,  both  died  or  removed,  before  1701.  All  the  others  named,  continued 
residents  of  the  town  some  years,  and,  as  supposed,  until  their  decease. 


48  HISTORY    OF    SI  MS  BURY. 

painted — though  the  town  once  voted  "  to  daub  it" — mean- 
ing-, it  is  supposed  by  this  phrase,  some  process  of  whitewash- 
ing. The  house  stood  in  front  of  the  burying  ground,  at 
Hop  meadow,  a  few  feet  north  of  the  present  school-house, 
where  some  of  its  foundation  stones  are  still  visible.  It  was 
used  for  public  worship,  and  town  meetings,  nearly  sixty 
years,  though  for  much  of  this  time,  it  was  evidently  too 
small  to  furnish  the  inhabitants  with  suitable  accommo- 
dations'. 

Resolutions^  or  Votes,  passed  hy  the  Toicn  relating  to  the  Loca- 
tion of  the  Meeting  House-     1671 — 1677. 

"  At  a  metting  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury  and  proprietors 

May  ye  5.  1671 was  voted  that  the  metting  house  should  be  at 

Hope  meadow  by  Luke  Hills,  and  caryed  by  ye  major  part,  by 
foure  persons." 

"  March  17.  1673.  At  a  metting  of  the  Inhabitants  and  propri- 
etors propounded,  in  case  the  former  vote  stands  on  the  west  syde 
the  river,  they  on  the  east  syd  of  the  river  should  chuse  the  place 
where  ye  metting  house  should  stand,  and  ye  second  proposition 
that  those  shuld  heave  free  liberty  to  bring  in  ye  votes  who  were 
wanting  when  ye  metting  was  at  Captain  Cooke's,  May  ye  5 
1671." 

"  May  ye  30.  1673.  For  the  setlement  of  peace  amongst  us  as 
concerning  a  contest  about  ye  meting  house,  and  for  the  finall  issu- 
ing of  the  same,  we  condesend  for  peace  and  quietness  sak  that 
Mr.  Stone  according  to  his  desire  should  determine  which  of  the 
two  places  the  metting  house  should  be  at,  whether  against 
Thomas  Rowell's,  or  upon  the  nape  against  the  personage  land  ; 
This  voted,  and  carryed  by  a  clear  vote  except  by  to  persons, 
Joshua  Holcomb  do  protest  against  ye  sam,  and  Joseph  Phelps. 
At  the  sam  metting,  determined  by  Mr.  Stone  yt  ye  metting  house 
should  stand  at  ye  place  fore  viewed  against  ye  personage  land 
where  it  is  most  convenient." 

"  March  73-74.  At  a  metting  of  ye  Inhabitant  and  proprietors 
about  ye  metting  house,  it  was  there  voted  that  the  metting  house 
should  be  sett  about  Luke  Hill's  in  the  place  most  convenient ; — 
this  done  in  ye  presence  of  Major  Talcott." 

"  June  ye  eighth  1674.  At  a  towne  meetting  of  ye  inhabitants 
of  Simsbury,  for  a  finall  issue  amongst  us  concerning  the  setlment 
of  the  metting  house — we  do  condesend,  so  that  love  and  peace 
may  be  obteynd,  we  mutualy  agree  that  the  metting  house  shall 
stand  at  ye  place  so  to  be  seated,  and  seated  at  that  place  against 
Samuel  Pinney's,  or  Rowell's,  upon  that  nape  where  Major  Tal- 
cott sett  a  stake." 

"  January  ye  8.  1677.     At  a  general   Towne    metting  of  ye 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  49 

Inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  voted  and  agreed  that  Thomas  barber 
shall  goe  on  with  the  building  of  the  metting  house  according  to 
the  Townes  bargain  with  him  in  their  indenture,  as  their  the  con- 
ditions is  specified  ;  and  in  case  of  faylure  on  his  peart  the  town 
has  fully  invested  ye  townsmen  with  powers  to  prosecut  the  same 
to  effect  ye  next  March  Court." 

The  first  clergyman  employed  was  Mr.  Samuel  Stone, 
son  of  the  minister  at  Hartford.  He  officiated  as  early  as 
1673,  and  in  the  spring  of  1674  the  inhabitants  gave  him  a 
call  to  settle  with  them.  But  the  Indian  war,  which  fol- 
lowed soon  afterwards,  with  other  causes,  prevented  a  set- 
tlement. He,  however,  supplied  the  pulpit,  when  there 
was  any  preaching  in  the  place,  until  1679;  but  he  was 
never  settled  over  the  parish. 

Under  the  date  of  "  December  the  last  1674,"  is  this 
record  : — 

"  The  inhabitants  of  Simsbury  have  received  information  from 
Mr.  vStone  yt  he  would  desist  in  the  worke  of  the  Ministry,  alias, 
the  publick  preaching  of  ye  word  of  God  in  this  plantation  of  Sims- 
bury : — ye  sd  inhabitants  of  Simsbury  haveing  made  an  essay  for 
some  other  to  suply,  but  now  the  sd  inhabitants  doth  concurre  and 
agree  to  Desist  their  present  proceedeng,  respecting  sending  forth, 
till  the  last  of  January ;  desiring  to  wait  upon  God  in  his  provi- 
dence, to  se  how  Matters  may  concord  between  us,  the  sd  inhab- 
itants of  Simsbury,  and  Mr.  Stone." 

At  another  meeting,  heldJanuary  14, 1674-5,  they  say: — 

"  Considering  how  that  on  the  Lord's  day  we  are,  and  have  ben, 
disappoynted  of  the  publick  preaching  of  the  word  of  God  ;  and 
considering  our  present  state  and  condition  in  this  present  juncture 
of  time,  and  how  that  God  cals  upon  us,  by  our  pious  and  Godly 
rulers,  who  have  exerted  and  put  forth  good  and  wholesome  laws 
for  people's  convening  and  metting  togather  in  a  consciencuss 
maner,  to  serve  the  lord  in  his  worship,  on  ye  Lord's  day ; — and 
further,  that  in  solemn  and  general  metings,  on  ye  lords  day,  yt  so 
there  might  the  better  be  notice  taken  in  what  manor  our  society 
keeps  the  Lords  day,  and  also  an  acount  given  to  such  as  may  ask 

or  enquier  after  ye  same  of  our  order  &c  ;. it  is  now  ordered,  that 

their  be  a  general  convening  and  gathring  together  of  our  people, 
in  this  plantation  of  Simsbury,  to  the  place  which  is  ordered  and 
appoynted  for  the  metting  together  on  the  Lords  da}^ ;  yet  if  any 
of  us,  our  peopl,  can  repair  to  any  other  place,  where  there  is  bet- 
ter means  to  be  had,  this  order,  according  to  the  intent  hereof,  is 
not  to  abridge  such ; — otherwise,  this  order  to  be  attended,  and 
5* 


50  HISTORY    OF     SIMSBURY.  ' !(' d &\ 

duely  observed,  by  all  such  as  do  not  repaire,  every  sabath,  where 
there  is  the  publyquick  preaching  of  ye  word  of  God,  unlesse 
som  imminent  providence  of  God  hinders." 

On  the  28th  of  January  1674-5,  the  following  "  agree- 
ment," as  it  is  called,  was  entered  into  with  Mr.  Stone. 

"  At  a  General  Town  metting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury  ; 
Having  received  an  Answer  from  Mr.  Stone,  that  he  could  not 
settle  amongst  us,  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  by  reason  of  his 
Disabilitie,  and  weakness  of  body:  We  the  said  Mr.  Stone,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  then  parted  without  any  spirit  of 
grudging  ; — also  it  was  agreed,  by  the  inhabitants,  to  pay  Mr. 
Stone  forty  pounds  for  this  last  year ;  Mr.  Stone  making  up  the 
Jast  quarter  in  preaching  at  such  times  as  God  shall  enable  him." 

In  January,  1675-6,  Mr.  Stone  was  employed  for  another 
half  year,  for  which  he  was  to  have  twenty  pounds.  Public 
service  was  interrupted  by  the  war.  He  was  afterwards 
hired  for  one  year  from  June  1,  1677,  and  subsequently  still 
another  year.  He  died,  soon  after  leaving  Simsbury,  by  a 
fall  from  the  bridge  in  Hartford. 

In  1681,  application  was  made  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel 
Stow,  of  Middletown,  to  preach  in  this  place.  He  supplied 
the  pulpit  four  years,  though  not  as  a  settled  pastor.*  Du- 
ring his  ministry,  the  church  was  formed,  and  regularly 
organized.     In  those  days,  the  General  Court  had  jurisdic- 


*  "  At  a  General  Towns  metting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury  August  14. 
168.').  The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Stow  desiring  an  answer  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Simsbury  whether  they  would  continue  him  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and 
settle  him  in  office  amongst  them;  A  meting  being  warned  Aug.  14.  168.D, 
Mr.  Stow's  proposition  presented  to  the  towne,  the  towne  not  seeing  cause  to 
accept  of  said  proposition  as  to  his  settlement  and  calling  to  office,  but  to  the 
contrary.  Upon  which  Vote  the  towne  made  choice  of  a  committee  to 
declare  their  said  vote  to  Mr.  Stow,  and  to  make  return  of  his  answer  to  this 
said  present  meeting.  Answer  from  Mr.  Stow  to  the  towne,  that  he  ye  said 
Mr.  Stow  did  rejoyce  that  he  had  received  the  towne's  pleasure  respecting 
himselfe ;  having  ben  with  God  by  earnest  prayer  to  give  him  a  determena- 
tion  of  his  mynd,  concerning  his  settlement  in  this  place  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  ; — farther  according  to  the  towne's  order,  it  being  referred  to  ye  Rev. 
Mr.  Stow  whether  he  would  continue  any  longer  in  ye  work  of  a  teaching 
minister.  His  reply  that  he  would  stay  no  longer  than  to  mak  up  his  four 
years  which  wil  terminate  said  he  in  the  middle  of  October  ; — farther  said 
that  he  should  rejoyce  to  hear  of  our  welfare,  and  that  he  would  be  helpfull 
in  the  procuring  of  another  minister  to  ye  place." 


HISTORY     OP     SIMSBURY.  51 

tion  over  all  matters  of  this  kind.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  application  made  for  liberty  "  to  put  the  church  in 
gospel  order." 

"The  Humble  Motion  of  Simsbury  men,  to  the  much  Honor'd 
ye  Governor,  and  Deputy,  with  the  rest  of  ye  worshipfull  Assist- 
ants, and  worthy  Members  of  this  Honor'd  assembly,  is  as  fol- 
loweth. 

We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  having  knowledg  and  tryal 
of  Mr.  Samuel  Stow,  in  ye  labors  of  ye  word  and  Doctrine  of  the 
gospel,  do  hereby  manifest,  so  far  as  we  know  our  own  hearts,  our 
hearty  desires  of  his  continuance  to  be  a  Pastor  and  Watchman 
over  our  soules  and  the  soules  of  ours  ;  And  that  therefore  for  his, 
and  our  encouragements,  an  addresse  might  be  made  to  the  Gene- 
ral Court  yt  is  to  set  this  Instant  of  May,  or  that  ye  presentation 
of  this  may  be,  instead  of  an  addresse,  (by  formal  petition,)  to  their 
Honours,  That  we  might  have  their  countenance  to  sette  our- 
selves in  gospel  order,  wth  the  approbation  and  helpe  of  approved 
Elders  of  Churches  among  us  ;  That  so  we  might,  according  to  ye 
obligation  yt  God  hath  layd  upon  us,  through  ye  application 
of  ye  representative  blood  of  his  Son,  walk  mour  orderly  to  his 
prase,  and  the  Salvation  of  our  Soules,  in  observance  of  whatso- 
ever he  hath  commanded  us  in  his  Holy  worde,  having  ye  means 
and  helps  that  he  hath  appointed  thereunto. 
Simsbmy  ye  7th  of  May  1682." 

Simon  Mills,  Joshua  Houlcoumbe, 

Samuel  Wilcockson,  Michell  Humphrey, 

George  Sanders,  John  Terrey, 

William  Parsons,  John  Case,  Senior, 

John  Brooks,  John  Slater, 

Daniel  Adams,  John  Pettibon, 

Thomas  Rowell,  Peter  Buell, 

Sam'l  Humphrey,  Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

Richard  Segar,  Josiah  Owen, 

John  Moses,  Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Parsons,  Benjamin  Bartlett, 

May  14th,  16S2. 

Mr.  Samuel  Stow,  and  Michall  Humphrey,  are  chosen 
to  present  this  present  Motion,  above  written,  to  this  Honored 
General  asseinbly  at  Hartford,  chosen  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Sims- 
bury, — as  adopted  ; 

John  Slater,  Register." 

The  Assembly  granted  the  application  of  the  petitioners, 
on  condition  that  they  should  obtain  the  consent  of  the 
neighboring  churches; — a  condition  which,  at  that  time, 
was  always  required  in   matters  of  this  kind.     This  assent 


52  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

was  obtained,  and  a  church  was  regularly  constituted  here, 
it  is  supposed,  during"  that  year. 

From  this  period,  until  1687,  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
person  officiated  in  the  ministry.  In  June  of  this  year,  Mr. 
Edward  Thompson,  of  Newbury,  Massachusetts,  was  em- 
ployed ;  the  inhabitants  agreeing  to  remove  his  family  and 
effects  to  Simsbury, — to  pay  him  fifty  pounds  per  annum, 
"  in  good  and  current  pay,  to  wit,  one  third  in  good  and 
merchantable  wheat  at  four  shillings  per  bushel,  one  third 
in  pease  or  rye  at  three  shillings  per  bushel,  and  one  third 
in  Indian  corn  or  pork,  the  corn  at  two  shillings  sixpence 
per  bushel,  and  the  pork  at  three  pounds  ten  shillings  per 
barrel," — allowing  him  also  fire  wood  and  the  use  of  the 
parsonage  property  ;  and  in  case  of  his  settlement  with 
them,  certain  lands  in  fee.  This  agreement  is  signed  by 
forty-nine  persons,  containing,  it  is  believed,  nearly  all  the 
then  legal  inhabitants  of  the  place ;  the  invitation  to  Mr. 
Thompson  was  adopted  unanimously  at  a  general  town 
meeting  held  at  the  same  time.  Mi.  Thompson  continued 
in  the  ministry,  though  not,  it  is  believed,  as  a  settled  pastor, 
until  the  summer  of  1691,  when  he  left  the  place. 

The  next  minister  was  Mr.  Seth  Shore,  who  commenced 
his  ministry  in  the  fall  of  1691.  In  the  following  winter, 
the  town  gave  liim  a  formal  call  to  settle  with  them  in  the 
ministry,  which  was  accepted.  But  the  records  do  not  show 
that  he  was  ever  ordained  over  the  society  as  a  pastor.  He 
continued  to  preach,  however,  until  1694,  or  1695. 

In  1695,  the  town  voted,  unanimously,  to  send  again  for 
Mr.  Thompson,  but  he  did  not  comply  with  the  invitation 
to  return  to  Simsbury. 

Mr.  Dudley  Woodbridge,  after  having  preached  a  short 
time  in  the  place,  received  an  unanimous  call  to  settle  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  October  2,  1695.  The  toAvn 
offered  him  a  salary  of  sixty  pounds,  annually,  in  good  cur- 
rent pay,  of  which  twenty  pounds  were  to  be  paid  in  silver, 
with  fire  wood,  the  parsonage  property,  and  other  lands 
which  had  been  offered  to  Mr.  Thompson.  He  did  not 
accept  the  call  at  that  time,  though  he  continued  to  offi- 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  53 

ciate  as  minister.  August  23,  1696,  the  call  was  renewed 
by  an  unanimous  vote.  Under  date  of  September  20,  of  this 
year,  is  this  record  : — 

"  Whereas,  there  arises  some  demur,  in  refference  to  our  pre- 
ceding actions,  touching  our  gathering  a  church  here  in  Simsbury, 
by  some  of  the  elders  of  the  neighboring  churches; — presupposing 
that  we  lye  under  scandol,  by  reason  of  the  minister's  departing 
and  leaving  of  us  destitute — they  desiring  to  be  better  informed  of 
said  mator.  Ensign  Thomas  Barber  is  chosen,  by  the  congregation, 
to  go  to  Mr.  Hooker  ;  and  Serg't  Samuel  Wilcoxson,  to  go  to  Mr. 
Mather,  for  to  inform  them  about  ye  said  case,  and  the  agitation 
thereof.* 

"Further  voted,  by  those  persons  that  have  subscribed  to  be 
admited  to  ye  Lords  super,  that  they  are  M^illing  to  be  examined, 
and  tried,  as  to  their  knowledge,  and  fitness,  for  such  fellowship 
and  ordinance,  by  the  elders  of  other  churches." 

This  matter  seems  to  have  been  settled  satisfactorily. 
Whether  it  ever  had  any  weight  with  Mr.  Woodbridge,  in 
inducing  a  postponement  of  his  ordination,  is  not  known. 
The  town  having  made  grants  of  other  lands,  on  condition 
of  his  settlement,  he  accepted  the  terms,  and  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  church,  Nov.  10,  1697. 

Among  the  articles  furnished  at  the  ordination,  are  the 
following,  which  are  here  noted  to  show  the  prices  of  pro- 
visions at  that  period.  Half  a  lamb  of  mutton,  2s.  6d. — 
butter,  six  pence  per  pound — four  pormds  of  sugar,  2s.  6d. — 
half  a  bushel  Indian  meal,  is.  3d. — two  fowls,  8^/. — eighty- 
four  pounds  of  beef,  15s. — thirty  pounds  venison,  35.  9d. — 
nineteen  pounds  of  pork,  4s.  9d. — nine  pounds  of  mutton, 
25. — two  gills  of  rum,  9d. 

Reduced  to  the  present  currency,  the  price  of  beef  was 
three  cents  a  pound — mutton,  three  and  a  half  cents, — and 
venison  two  cents. 

He  was  the  first  ordained  minister  in  the  town,  and  con- 
tinued here  in  the  ministry,  until  his  death,  August  3,  1710, 
greatly  beloved  by  his  people,  and,  for  aught  that  appears, 
having  ever  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  with  great 


*  Both  Clergymen.     Mr.  Hooker  preached  at  Farmington.and  Mr.  Mather 
at  Windsor. 


54  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

fidelity.  He  was  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge,  of 
Wethersfield,  a  family  distinguished  for  their  attachment  to 
the  profession  of  the  ministry.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was 
Dorothy  Lamb,  of  Roxbury,  Massachusetts. 

He  resided  on  a  lot,  known  for  many  years  as  the  parson- 
age lot,  on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  nearly  opposite  the 
house  of  the  late  Gen.  Noah  Phelps,  deceased.  The  well, 
belonging  to  the  house,  was  discovered  a  few  years  since, 
covered  over.  In  1700,  the  town  voted  to  fortify  his  house, 
by  building  a  stockade  or  palisade  around  it.  This  was 
done,  and  the  house  continued,  for  many  years,  as  the  place 
of  resort  for  all  the  inhabitants  in  that  vicinity,  when  danger 
was  threatened,  or  expected.  His  successor,  the  Rev.  Tim- 
othy Woodbridge,  occupied  the  same  house  many  years, 
and  until  he  removed  to  another,  which  he  built,  and  which 
stood  upon  the  same  spot  as  the  one  now  occupied  by  Doct. 
Augustus  R.  Case.* 

From  a  manuscript  church  record  kept  by  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge,  now  in  a  mutilated  condition,  it  appears,  that  at  the 
time  of  his  ordination,  there  were  forty-three  persons  belong- 
ing to  the  church  ; — seventeen  women,  and  twenty-six  men, 
including  one  Indian. 

The  form  of  church  covenant  used  at  this  time  was  as 
follows  : 

"  You  do  all  here,  solomnely  here  in  the  feare  of  God's  all  pres- 
ence of  this  congregation,  avouch  God  in  Jesus  Christ  to  be  your 
God  ;— and  you  do  give  up  yourselves  and  yours  to  be  the  Lord's, 
to  submit  to  his  rule  and  government  in  his  church,  to  obey  his 
commands,  walke  in  all  Religious  duties  towards  God  ;  in  love 
towards  your  neighbors  ; — and  that  you  will  do  your  duty  in  bring- 
ing up  your  children  in  the  knowledg  and  feare  of  God  according 
to  the  scriptures." 

*  The  Wyllis  family  of  Hartford,  with  whom  the  Woodbridges  were  allied, 
were  often  visitors  at  the  old  mansion  ;  and  in  the  spring  season,  came  fre- 
quently to  fish  for  salmon,  which  were  then  abundant  in  the  river.  Long 
after  the  decease  of  the  last  Mr.  Woodbridge,  and  after  the  house  had  been 
demolished,  some  members  of  this  family  visited  its  site,  and  collected  relics 
from  the  remains  of  its  foundation  walls. 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  55 

"  The  names  of  those  promising  so  to  do,  are  as  followeth  : — 

Thomas  Barbur,  Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

Peter  Buell,  Joseph  Strickland, 

Samuel  Case,  Jeremiah  Gillitt, 

John  Slater,  Sen.  Mascalin,  (Indian,) 

Jonah  Westover,  Ruth  Holcomb, 

John  Pettibon,  Sen.  Sarah  Pettibon^ 

Andrew  Hillyard,  Elizabeth  Holcomb, 

John  Pettibone,  Jun.  Deborah  Moses, 

Thomas  Holcomb,  Mary  Humphris, 

Samuel  Humphries,  Mary  Bisel, 

Thomas  Griffin,  Elizabeth  Tullor, 

Sam'l  Willcockson,  Sen.  Abigail  Backon, 

John  Case,  Sarah  Hill, 

Sam'l  Willcockson,  Jun.  Elizabeth  Gozzard,  Sen. 

Joseph  Case,  Sarah  Mills, 

Eliezer  Hill,  Elizabeth  Gozard, 

John  Mills,  Deborah  Addams, 

James  Hillyard,  Sarah  Hill, 

John  Tullor,  Hannah  Holcomb, 

William  Case,  Marey  Barbur, 

John  Slater,  Jun.  Elizabeth  Strickland. 

These  are  the  names  of  those  men  and  women  that  were 
accepted  for  full  communion  in  Simsbury  at  the  Lord's  table,  by 
the  Elders  of  the  Church  signing  their  names." 

It  would  seem  that  all  the  old  members  of  the  church 
renewed  their  covenants,  according  to  this  form,  after  Mr. 
Woodbridge's  ordination. 

After  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dudley  Woodbridge,  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  his  kinsman,  Mr.  Timothy  Wood- 
bridge,  Jr.  of  Hartford,  on  probation.  His  services  being 
acceptable,  tlie  inhabitants  at  a  town  meeting,  held  January 
3,  1712,  invited  him,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  to  become  their 
settled  pastor.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  The  terms  of 
settlement,  as  agreed  upon,  were — the  payment  of  ninety 
pounds  in  lands — one  hundred  and  ten  pounds,  in  provision 
pay,  one  half  thereof  payable  in  1715,  and  the  residue  in 
1716, — a  yearly  salary  for  the  first  four  years,  of  seventy 
pounds,  and  his  fire  wood,  and  thereafter,  one  hundred 
pounds  annually,  payable,  in  both  cases,  in  provision  pay ^ 
according  to  the  price  of  provisions,  as  stated  by  the  Gene- 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

ral  Court,  yearly.  Those  who  paid  their  rates  in  money,  were 
to  be  allowed  a  discount  of  one  third  of  the  amount  of  such 
rates.* 

Mr.  Woodbridg-e  was  ordained  November  13,  1712,  and 
continued  in  the  ministry  until  his  decease,  August  28, 
1742.  He  was  a  gentlemen  of  education,  piety  and  good 
talents  ;  but,  as  will  appear  in  other  parts  of  this  history,  he 
was  extensively  engaged  in  worldly  avocations,  and  specu- 
lations— a  fault,  if  it  be  such,  which  was  not  uncommon,  at 
that  period,  among-  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  He  mar- 
ried the  relict  of  the  former  Mr.  Woodbridge,  by  whom  he 
had  several  children.  The  Woodbridges,  now  residing  in 
this  town,  are  among  his  descendants.  His  widow,  who 
survived  him  a  few  years,  dwelt  and  died  here. 

*  ^'  Provision  pay" — a  term  in  common  use  for  a  long  series  of  years — was 
adopted  by  reason  of  the  scarcity  of  specie  in  circulation.  Our  foreign  trade, 
which  was  confined  chiefly  to  the  mother  country  and  subjected  to  her  control, 
was  so  restricted  that  the  balance  of  trade  was  turned  against  us,  and  conse- 
quently the  importation  of  specie  prevented.  From  the  first  settlement  of 
the  Colony,  to  the  French  war  of  1745,  when  the  war  expenses  were  paid  by 
England  in  coin,  there  was  hardly  any  specie  in  circulation,  and  but  little  in 
the  country. 

"  Provision  pay"  was  thus  from  necessity  adopted.  Until  the  first  issue 
of  paper  money  by  the  Colony  in  1709,  nearly  all  payments  were  made 
in  provisions.  All  taxes  too  were  paid  in  produce,  at  prices  for  the  different 
articles  established  from  time  to  time  by  the  General  Court.  And  contracts 
between  individuals,  unless  expressly  stipulated  to  be  paid  in  specie,  were 
payable  in  the  same  manner,  and  at  the  same  prices.  Much  of  the  traffic 
between  individuals  however,  was  carried  on  by  barter  or  exchange  of  goods. 

In  1709,  and  at  various  times  subsequently,  the  Colony  issued  paper  money, 
or  "  bills  of  credit,"  as  this  species  of  money  was  then  called,  which,  being 
receivable  for  all  taxes  and  public  dues,  became  the  general  circulating 
medium,  though  after  a  few  years,  it  passed  at  aconsiderable  discount  below 
the  par  value  of  specie.  These  bills  of  credit,  issued  by  Connecticut,  con- 
tinued in  circulation  until  after  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution, when  they  were  supplanted  by  the  "  Continental  money." 

After  the  peace  in  1783,  when  trade  with  foreign  countries  was,  in  general, 
unrestricted  and  in  a  thriving  condition,  specie  was  imported  and  thrown 
into  general  circulation.  So  that,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  Colony,  to 
the  peace  of  17S3,  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  years,  with  the 
exception  of  two  short  terms  during  the  French  wars  of  1745  and  1756, 
specie  was  not  in  circulation  to  any  considerable  extent. 


CHAPTER    V. 

Location  and  Erection  of  the  Second  Moeting-House.   Other  Ecclesiastical  Affairs. 
1725—1845. 

The  old  nieeting'-house  being  out  of  repair,  and  too  small 
to  accommodate  the  inhabitants,  measures  were  taken,  in 
1725,  to  erect  a  new  one.  And  here  commenced  a  contro- 
versy upon  this  subject,  which  continued  for  a  period  of 
over  thirteen  years,  and  which,  before  the  question  was 
finally  settled,  had  become  so  acrimonious  as  to  separate 
friends  and  family  connections,  and  so  general,  as  to  per- 
vade all  ranks  and  conditions  of  the  people.  And  it  had 
so  extended  itself  amongst  the  members  of  the  church,  that 
the  Ministerial  Association  was  induced  to  recommend  to 
the  pastor  to  discontinue  the  administration  of  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper. 

In  order  to  understand  correctly  the  various  influences 
which  bore  upon  this  question,  a  view  should  be  taken  of 
the  condition  of  the  town  at  that  time.  Its  geographical 
center  was  nearly  two  miles  north  of  the  old  meeting-house, 
and  there  were  no  settlements  west  of  the  main  road  leading 
from  Meadow  plain  to  Salmon  brook.  The  principal  vil- 
lages were  then,  as  now,  at  Weatauge,  (east  and  west,) 
Hop  meadow,  Westover's  plain,  &c.; — each  of  which  was 
desirous  of  having  the  house  iq  its  immediate  vicinity.  And, 
as  there  were  then  no  bridges  across  the  river,  it  was  of 
some  consequence  that  the  building  should  be  placed  near 
that  stream,  tliat  those  vvho  had  to  pass  it,  might  leave 
their  horses  on  its  bank,  and  have  but  a  short  distance  to 
walk  after  crossing  it. 

After  various  meetings,  held   by  the  town,  in  1725,  to 
establish  the  site  for  the  new  house,  all  of  which  were  un- 
successful, the  town,  on  the  7th  of  October,  1725,  made  a 
6 


58  HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY. 

formal  application  to  the  General  Assembly,  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  committee,  "  to  come  to  Simsbury,  and  take  a 
view  of  the  situation  of  it,"  and  "to  give  their  advice  where 
the  meeting-house  should  be  set,  for  the  greatest  conveni- 
ency,  of  the  whole  town,  and  to  make  report  to  the  General 
Assembly,  in  May  next,  in  order  to  a  confirmation." 

The  application  was  granted,  and  a  committee  appointed, 
consisting  of  Governor  Talcott,  Matthew  AUyn,  an  Assistant, 
and  Roger  Wolcott,  also  an  Assistant,  and  subsequently 
Governor  of  the  Colony,  who  reported  to  the  May  session 
of  the  Assembly,  1726,  that,  in  their  opinion,  the  meeting- 
house should  be  placed  atBisselFs  landing,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river,  and  advised  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  "  to 
proceed  and  set  up  their  meeting-house,  at  that  place,  in  a 
christian  and  peacable  manner  becoming  such  a  work." 
"  Bissell's  landing,"  a  name  now  obsolete,  was  near  the 
present  bridge  at  Westover's  plain.  This  report  was  ac- 
cepted by  both  Houses ;  thus  the  question  was  apparently 
settled. 

But,  at  the  same  session,  a  petition  was  presented  signed 
by  all  the  inhabitants  residing  in  the  southerly  part  of  the 
town,  including  a  few  persons  belonging  to  the  north  part 
of  Farmington,  praying  for  a  distinct  society,  with  liberty 
to  place  their  meeting-house  at  west  Weatauge ;  the  north 
boundary  thereof,  to  be  a  line  runing  easterly  and  westerly 
from  the  mouth  of  Hop  brook.  The  petitioners  state,  that 
Bissell's  landing  place  "  is  distant,  from  the  nearest  of  us, 
(excepting  about  three  or  four  families.)  four  miles,  and 
that  we  are  in  number  about  three  hundred  persons,  and 
the  difficulty  of  transporting  ourselves,  and  families,  to  the 
worship  of  God,  is  a  burden  almost  insupportable," — and 
that  "  the  list  of  our  estate  is  about  three  thousand  pounds." 
This  petition  was  granted  in  the  lower  House,  but  rejected 
in  the  Council. 

There  was  another  petition  presented,  at  the  same  ses- 
sion, signed  by  seventy-six  persons,  evincing  their  concur- 
rence in  the  report  of  the  committee,  establishing  the  site  of 
the    meeting-house    at   Bissell's  landing;    and   protesting 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  59 

against  the  formation  of  a  new  society,  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town,  for  "  if  so,"  as  they  say,  "it  destroys  the  whole 
community,  because  tiie  travells  of  the  north  society  will 
not  be  eased,  and  the  charge  (will  be)  almost  iusupport- 
able." 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  August  7,  1726,  the  town  voted 
that  they  "will  not  build  a  meeting-house  at  ye  place  where 
the  Court's  committee  ordered,  viz.,  at  Bissell's  landing 
place." 

In  September,  1726,  the  town  voted  to  divide  into  two 
societies  ;  and  appointed  Mr.  James  Ensign,  of  Hartford, 
Deacon  John  Hart,  of  Farmington,  and  Joseph  Barnard,  of 
Windsor,  a  committee  to  establish  the  divisional  line  be- 
tween the  two  societies. 

At  the  October  session,  1726,  a  large  nunooer  of  the  inhab- 
itants presented  to  the  General  Assembly  a  petition,  in 
which  they  state,  that  "  there  has  been  great  difficulties  in 
our  town  concerning  the  building  a  meeting-house,  and  our 
dificulties  are  still  remaining;  and  we  are  in  no  way  likely 
to  suite  ourselves;  therefore,  we  humbly  pray  this  Honor- 
able Assembly,  that  they  would  not  move  us  from  the  place 
where  the  meeting-house  now  stands,  (being  near  the  an- 
cient settlements  of  our  town,)  at  present,  or  until  we  are 
in  some  way  (better  able)  to  suite  ourselves." 

April  25,  1727,  the  town  adopted  a  petition  to  the  General 
Assembly,  asking  for  a  division  of  the  town  into  two  socie- 
ties; and  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  fix  the 
dividing  line,  and  the  sites  of  the  two  meeting-houses.  The 
prayer  of  the  petition  was  granted,  and  Capt.  William 
Wadsworth,  Capt.  John  Sheldon,  and  Mr.  James  Church, 
were  appointed,  who  reported  in  favor  of  a  division  into  two 
societies ; — the  dividing  line  to  run  westerly  from  a  point 
commencing  some  forty  rods  north  of  the  present  school- 
house  at  Westover's  plain,  and  easterly  until  it  intersects  the 
river,  which  it  follows  to  Windsor  bounds ; — that  the  site 
of  the  meeting-house,  for  the  south  society,  should  be  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  a  little  south  of  the  bend  of  the 
river,  (this  place  is  perhaps  eighty  rods  north  of  the  present 


60  HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY. 

dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Oliver  Bradley  ;) — and  that  the 
meeting-house,  for  the  north  society,  should  be  erected 
about  sixty  rods  west  of  Higley's  marsh,  on  the  road  leading 
from  the  Falls  to  Turkey  hills.  This  report  was  accepted 
at  the  May  session,  1727,  and  a  resolution  passed  in  accord- 
ance therewith. 

But,  this  division,  and  especially  the  location  of  the  two 
meeting-houses,  were  unsatisfactory  to  a  large  portion  of  the 
inhabitants. 

The  first,  or  south  society,  held  a  meeting  on  the  27th  of 
December  1727,  and  resolved  that  they  would  not  build  a 
meeting-house  at  the  place  designated  by  the  committee. 
And,  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  March  26,  1728,  they 
voted  to  meet  for  public  worship  at  the  old  meeting-house; 
also,  to  build  a  new  one  at  the  same  place  ;  and  appointed 
Joseph  Case  senior,  and  Jonathan  Westover,  a  committee 
to  petition  the  legislature  for  permission  to  do  so.  The 
Assembly,  however,  refused  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the 
petition. 

At  the  same  session,  a  petition,  signed  by  fifty-six  per- 
sons, was  preferred,  complaining  that  the  south  society  had, 
by  a  vote,  refused  to  build  a  house  for  public  worship  at  the 
place  approved  of  by  the  legislature,  and  asking  for  a  special 
act  to  enable  them  to  raise  mowey,  by  assessments,  to  build 
the  house  as  ordered  by  the  Assembly.  It  does  not  appear 
that  any  action  was  had  upon  this  petition. 

Another  town  meeting  was  held,  October  10,  1728,  when 
agents  were  appointed  to  present  a  petition,  then  adopted  by 
the  town,  to  the  General  Assembly,  asking,  "as  a  last 
remedy,"  for  the  appointment  of  "  one  more  committee," 
clothed  with  full  authority  to  decide  whether  one,  or  more, 
meeting-houses  should  be  built,  and  to  fix  the  location  of  such 
as  they  should  order  to  be  erected.  The  petition  was  granted, 
and  a  committee  appointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Matthew 
AUyn,  John  Hooker,  James  Ensign  and  Joseph  Barnard, 
with  full  authority  to  decide  the  controversy.  Instead  of 
reporting  their  decision  to  the  Assembly,  as  was  usual  in 
such  cases,  they  were  directed  to  return  it  to  the  Secretary 


HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY.  61 

for  record,  and,  when  so  recorded,  the  proceedings  were  to 
be  decisive  and  conclusive  upon  the  town,  and,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  resolution,  "  an  utter  end  of  the  controversy." 
The  committee  decided,  that  the  town  should  continue  undi- 
vided, and  united  in  one  ministerial  society,  as  heretofore ; 
and  "  fuither,  that  ye  place,  wheir  they  shall  erect  theyer 
meeting  house,  shall  be  on  ye  west  side  of  ye  river,  on  ye 
south  side  of  ye  way  or  road  leading  up  from  ye  river,  where 
they  ordinarily  pass  with  ye  boat,  and  so  up  ye  hill,  com- 
monly called  Drake's  hill."  This  place  is  about  forty  rods 
east  of  the  present  njeeting-house  in  Simsbury.  The  com- 
mittee directed  that  the  house  should  be  forty-five  feet 
square.  They  also  made  out  a  rate  bill,  and  appointed  col- 
lectors, to  collect  the  taxes  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the 
building,  and  a  committee  to  superintend  its  construction. 
At  the  same  time,  to  wit,  November  21,  1728,  the  town  voted 
"  to  unite  into  one  society  as  formerly." 

It  would  seem  that,  after  these  proceedings,  the  question 
would  be  considered  as  settled,  and  the  controversy  at  an 
end.  The  building  committee  had  provided  timber  for  the 
house,  and  carried  it  to  the  place.  But  tlie  end  of  the  con- 
troversy was  not  yet.  A  large  number,  though  probably  not 
a  majority,  of  the  inhabitants,  were  strongly  opposed  to  this 
decision.  The  two  persons,  appointed  collectors,  refused  to 
act ;  and  the  town  not  only  refused  to  take  any  efficient 
measure  in  aid  of  the  project,  but,  at  a  meeting  held  April 
29,  1729,  it  voted  "  to  set  off  a  society,  from  ye  dug  way  to 
ye  north,  and  to  run  a  west  north  west  point  from  ye  river, 
westward,  and  ye  river  to  be  ye  dividing  line,  northward." 

In  consequence  of  these  proceedings,  numerous  petitions 
were  presented  to  the  next  session  of  the  General  Assembly, 
held  in  May,  1729,  complaining  that  the  place  designated  by 
the  last  committee,  for  the  site  of  the  meeting-house,  "is 
miry,"  and  subject  to  be  overflown  by  the  floods ;  "that  it  is 
not  convenient  for  the  whole  town,  nor  for  one  society,  when 
the  town  is  divided  into  two  societies ;" — and  asking  that 
the  committee  may  be  again  sent  to  the  town,  and  another 
6* 


62  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

hearing-  be  liad.     The  request,  was  granted,  and  the  commit- 
tee directed  to  review  their  proceedings. 

The  committee  met  on  the  25th  of  June,  1729,  and,  on 
reconsideration,  reversed  and  set  aside  their  former  proceed- 
ings ;  and  decided  that  the  town  should  be  divided  into  two 
distinct  societies, — the  dividing  line  being  the  one  crossing 
at  the  "  dug  way,"  before  mentioned, — that  the  site  for  the 
meeting-house  in  the  first,  or  south,  society,  should  be 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  opposite  Deac.  James  Cornish's 
dwelling-house,  (then  standing  where  Mr.  John  TuUer's 
house  now  stands,) — that  the  timber  provided  for  the  build- 
ing at  Drake's  hill,  should  belong  to  this  society,  and  be 
used  for  this  house  ;  and  that  the  meeting-house  of  the  north 
society  should  be  erected  at  Bridge  hill,*  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  at  the  "  falls."  They  also  appointed  a  build- 
ing committee  for  each  society. 

The  building  committee  of  the  south  eociety,  in  pursu- 
ance of  this  authority,  removed  the  timber  (and,  as  tradition 
says,  in  the  night  season,)  from  Drake's  hill  across  the  river 
to  the  new  site  for  their  house,  and  proceeded  to  frame  and 
raise  the  building.  But,  as  there  was  no  collector  "to 
gather  the  rates"  which  had  been  laid  by  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  Assembly,  they  applied  to  the  legislature, 
to  appoint  a  collector  for  this  purpose,  for  the  reason,  as 
they  state,  that  they  "judge  it  impossible  for  said  society, 
under  their  present  circumstances,  to  chuse  a  collector." 
This  timber  was  afterwards  attached  by  William  Bael, 
which  occasioned  a  cessation  in  the  further  construction  of 
the  building  at  that  place. 

The  second  society,  July  22d,  1729,  voted  to  raise  a  rate 
or  tax  of  four  pence  on  the  pound,  "to  arect  and  build  a 
meating  hous  at  the  bridge  hill,  as  the  commity  ordered; 
and  that  with  the  advise  with  some  wise  men,  we  will  hire 
a  minster  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  second  sosiaty,  at  Dan- 
iel Holcomb's  hous,"  The  list  of  this  society  then  amount- 
ed to  j£3636  125.  Od.     At  another  meeting,  held  in  August  of 

'  Bridge  hill,  it  is  supposed,  was  near  the  residence  of  David  Latham  Esq. 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  63 

the  same  year,  the  society  voted  that  the  dimensions  of  their 
meeting-house  should  be  forty-two  by  thirty-two  feet. 

Sixty-one  persons,  some  of  them  belonging  to  the  north 
society,  addressed  a  letter,  dated  July  16,  1729,  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Woodbridge,  in  which  they  state,  that  "  having  met 
together  to  consider  our  dil!iculties,  relating  to  the  settle- 
ment of  our  meeting-house  affairs,  and  things  seemingly 
looking  worse  than  ever,  as  if  love  and  peace  were  likely  to 
depart  from  us,  in  the  way  that  we  are  in;"  they  conclude 
by  offering  to  pay  him  his  salary,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
pounds  yearly,  "  so  long  as  he  shall  continue  with  them  as 
their  pastor,"  in  case  the  General  Court  would  sanction  the 
measure.  Jonathan  Westover  signs  the  letter,  with  this 
proviso,  that  he  will  pay  his  "equal  part  in  a  gospel  way, 
but  not  in  a  forcible  way," 

At  the  October  session,  1729,  a  number  of  petitions  were 
presented  to  the  Assembly,  some  in  favor  of,  and  the  others 
against  a  confirmation  of  the  doings  of  the  last  committee. 
But  it  does  not  appear  that  any  notice  was  taken  of  these 
memorials. 

Another  town  meeting  was  held  in  March,  1730,  when  it 
was  voted  to  continue  to  maintain  public  worship,  at  the 
old  meeting-house,  and  to  request  Mr.  Woodbridge  to  con- 
tinue with  them  and  officiate  as  formerly.  It  was  also 
resolved  to  take  the  advice  of  the  Association  of  Ministers, 
in  relation  to  their  difficulties,  and  in  view  of  them,  wheth- 
er or  not,  Mr.  Woodbridge  ought  to  continue  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry. 

The  Association  met  at  Simsbury  on  the  31st  of  March, 
and  having  heard  the  contending  parties,  and  used  their 
influence  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation,  but  finding,  as 
they  say,  "  that  nothing  could  be  gained,"  they  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  "  under  the  present  divided  circumstances" 
of  the  town,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  was  "  under  no  obli- 
gation to  continue  his  ministry,  either  at  the  old  meeting- 
house, or  in  any  other  separate  part  of  the  town." 

The  controversy,  at  no  time  distinguished  for  its  mild- 
ness,  assumed   now  an  aspect  dangerous  to  the  welfare  of 


64  HISTORYOFSIMSBURY. 

the  community.  It  was  deep  rooted  and  wide  spread. 
Even  the  church  became  infected.  So  warmly  and  gener- 
ally had  its  members  entered  into  the  quarrel,  that  the  Asso- 
ciation felt  compelled  to  decide,  that  the  members  of  this 
chmch  were  so  destitute  "of  a  good  and  christian  frame 
of  spirit,  as  to  be  unfit  for  communion  at  the  Lord's 
table."* 

The  north  society,  also,  procured  timber  to  build  their 
meeting-house  at  Bridge  hill,  and  laid  a  tax,  as  before  sta- 
ted, to  defray  the  expense  of  erecting  the  building.  But,  as 
the  collector  had  received  his  appointment  from  the  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  his  authority 
was  questioned,  and  the  people  refused  to  pay  their  taxes. 

At  the  next  session  of  the  Assembly,  May  1730,  a  large 
number  of  petitions  were  presented,  in  reference  to  this 
contested  subject.  Among  them,  was  one  signed  by  the 
Rev.  Timothy  Edwards,  and  five  other  distinguished  cler- 
gymen, in  which  they  state,  that  "  the  sorrowful  state  of 
the  town  of  Simsbnry"  is  such,  that  "  the  strictest  bonds  of 
charity  oblige  us,  and  all  christians  that  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  it,  to  compassionate  them."  The  legisla- 
ture did  not  directly  grant  the  prayer  of  any  of  these  peti- 
tions ; — but  it  appointed  another  committee,  consisting  of 
Gov.  Talcott,  and  Nathaniel  Stanley  and  Ozias  Pitkin 
Esqrs.  "  to  meet  the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  in  a  legally 
warned  town  meeting,  in  order  that  the  said  meeting  might 
consider,  and  agree  amongst  themselves,  at  what  place,  or 
places,  and  in  what  manner,  to  build  for  themselves  a 
meeting-house,  or  meeting-houses,  for  the  worship  of  God 
as  they,  or  the  greater  part  of  them,  by  their  votes  shall,  in 
such  meeting,  agree,  conclude,  and  determine  ;"  at  which 

North  Association  of  the  County  of  Hartford,  March  31,  1730  ; — 

"  Upon  viewing  the  state  of  the  brethren  in  Simsbury  in  respect  to  their 
present  contention : — Questio7i,  whether  they  ought,  without  some  antece- 
dent reconciliation,  to  join  in  the  communion  of  the  Lord's  supper  : — Voted 
by  the  Association,  that  they  ought  not.  Teste, 

Benjamin  Colton,  Scribe." 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  65 

meeting-,  the  committee  were  "  desired  to  be  present  and 
endeavor  to  persuade  the  people  of  said  town  to  surcease 
their  contentions,  and  join,  as  brethren,  lovingly  to  go  on 
with  thisg-ood  work.  And  his  Honor  is  desired  to  report  to 
this  Assembly,  in  October  next,  in  what  manner  they  have 
succeeded  in  this  affair  ;  and  if  the  inhabitants  of  said  town 
shall  not  agree,  by  their  greater  vote,  to  the  building  one  or 
more  meeting-houses,  then  to  report  to  the  Assembly,  if  it 
be  best,  in  their  opinion,  whether  there  should  be  one,  or 
moie  societies;  and  if  two,  whether  the  places,  where  the 
committee  have  last  ordered  their  meeting-houses  to  be,  are 
not  most  commodious  for  them." 

The  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  28th  day  of  July,  at 
which  Gov.  Talcott  was  present,  and  used  his  great  influ- 
ence to  effect  a  reconciliation  between  the  contending  par- 
ties, and  apparently  with  success,  for  the  town  voted  to 
remain  one  society,  and  to  build  the  meeting-house  at  Bis- 
sell's  landing  place.  Upon  the  report  of  the  committee, 
embracing  this  result,  the  Assembly,  Oct.  1730,  approved 
thereof,  and  ordered  the  town  "  to  proceed  to  build  accord- 
ingly." 

But,  at  a  succeeding  town  meeting,  held  but  a  few  months 
afterwards,  to  wit,  January  1,  1731,  it  was  voted,  by  agreat 
majority,  that  the  town  would  not  "  do  any  thing  about 
building  a  meeting-house  at  Bissell's  landing  place."  And, 
at  the  same  meeting,  a  large  committee  was  appointed,  from 
the  different  sections  of  the  town,  to  enquire  and  report  at  a 
future  meeting,  what  measures  could  be  adopted  to  bring 
the  controversy  "to  a  general  and  peacible  accommodation." 
The  committee,  by  a  large  majority,  reported,  among  other 
things,  that  the  west  side  of  the  river  from  Farmington 
bounds,  to  extend  north  so  as  to  include  the  Higley  settle- 
ment, should  be  the  first  society,  and  the  portion  of  the  town 
easterly  of  the  river,  should  be  the  second  society.  This 
report  was  accepted  "  by  a  very  full  vote  ;" — and  the  new 
designated  first  society  attempted  an  organization,  by  elect- 
ing its  committee,  and  voting  to  raise  the  annual  salary  of 


66  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

the  clergyman.  But  their  appb'cation  to  the  legislature,  for 
a  confirmation  of  these  proceedings,  was  rejected. 

At  this  period,  there  had  been  so  many  contradictory 
decisions  relating  to  this  subject,  that  great  uncertainty  pre- 
vailed in  respect  to  the  rights  and  duties  of  the  parish.  It 
is  doubtful  whether  any  legal  society  existed  at  this  time. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  continued  to  officiate  in  the 
ministry,  to  such  as  chose  to  hear  him,  but  no  taxes  were 
imposed  to  pay  his  salary  ;  and  it  was  strongly  doubted,  by 
many  persons,  whether  he  was  the  legally  settled  pastor. 
Notwithstanding  all  these  contentions,  into  some  of  which 
he  was  reluctantly  drawn, — for  it  was  well  known  that  he 
was  in  favor  of  the  location  of  the  meeting-house,  at  Hop 
meadow,  where  he  dwelt, — yet  he  was  very  generally 
esteemed,  and  possessed,  to  a  large  extent,  the  confidence 
and  affection  of  his  people. 

The  Assembly,  at  the  two  next  sessions,  in  May,  and 
October  1731,  was  again  importuned,  by  sundry  memorials 
from  the  people  of  Simsbury,  to  do  something  to  relieve  the 
"  distracted  condition,  both  of  the  church  and  town." 
Among  these,  was  one  from  Mr.  Woodbridge,  complaining 
that  his  salary  had  remained  unpaid,  for  a  period  of  one 
year  and  seven  months,  and  asking  for  some  process  to 
enforce  itscollection.*  None  of  these  petitions  were  granted. 

*  "  At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury  town,  regularly  convened 
in  said  town  on  thursday  the  16th  of  Dec.  1731,  and  continued  by  adjourn- 
ment to  ye  17th  of  said  month  ;  it  being  proposed  to  this  meeting  whether  they 
would  vote  and  order  a  rate,  and  thereby  raise  a  salary  for  Mr.  Timothy 
Woodbridge  for  ye  year  last  past.  This  meeting  doth  resolve  in  ye  negative, 
that  we  will  not  raise  any  such  a  rate  to  pay  him  for  ye  year  past,  for  sundry 
reasons  which  to  us  seem  sufficient. 

"  And  more  especially,  for  that  ye  Association  have  given  it  as  their  opin- 
ion, on  March  31,  1730,  that  Mr.  Woodbridge  was  not  obliged  to  continue  his 
ministry  in  ye  former  place  of  publique  meeting,  or  in  any  other  separate  part 
of  ye  town  ; — thereibre,  he  not  being  obliged  to  us,  we  cannot  be  obliged  to 
him. — And  ye  abovesaid  Association  did  at  their  meeting  on  Feb.  4,  1730 
advise,  that  if  Mr.  Woodbridge  see  sufficient  encouragment  from  a  number 
that  seems  to  be  agreed  in  ye  west  society,  that  he  would  continue  with 
them  ;  but  the  inhabitants  of  our  town  have  maintained  ye  publique  worship 


HISTORY   OP    SIMSBURY.  67 

But  at  the  May  session,  1732,  the  Assembly  appointed  an- 
other committee  to  visit  Simsbury,  and  see  what  could  be 
done  to  "  promote  the  peace  and  reconciliation  of  the  peo- 
ple ;" — and  upon  their  report,  which  was  made  during  the 
same  session,  a  resolution  was  passed,  directing  that  public 
worship  should  be  held  in  the  old  meeting-house  Jor  the 
term  of  three  years  thereafter; — that  the  inhabitants  of 
Turkey  hills  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  maintaining  public 
worship,  in  their  village,  during  six  months  in  each  year ; — 
that  the  inhabitants  living  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  have 
the  same  privilege,  during  four  months  ; — that  the  old  meet- 
ing-house might  be  repaired  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  and 
contributions ; — and  that,  if  the  town  should  not,  within 
twenty  days  after  the  rising  of  the  Assembly,  lay  a  tax, 
sufficient  to  pay  the  salary  due  to  Mr.  Woodbridge,  or  should 
neglect  to  collect  and  pay  it  in  full  by  the  first  day  of  ihe 
ensuing  October,  the  Secretary  of  the  colony  was  directed 
to  issue  an  execution  therefor,  to  be  levied  upon  the  estates 
of  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  collected,  "  by 
distress  and  sale  of  their  goods." 

The  town  having  voted,  March  29,  1733,  that  Turkey 
hills,  and  Salmon  brook,  might  each  be  set  off  into  a  sep- 
arate society,  the  inhabitants  of  those  places,  respectively, 
memorialized  the  General  Assembl}^,  held  in  May  1733,  for 
parish  privileges;  but  their  applications  were  both  rejected. 
This  town  meeting  was  convened  expressly  for  the  purpose 
of  deciding  the  question,  whether  the  inhabitants  would 
agree  to  form  themselves  into  one,  two,  or  more,  ministerial 
societies.  The  result  was,  the  formation  of  three  societies, 
and  the  line  which  was  agregd  upon,  running  between  the 
south  and  Salmon  brook  societies,  was  the  same,  or  nearly 
the  same,  as  that  which  at  the  present  time  divides  Sims- 
bury  and  Granby.  At  this  time,  there  were  in  Turkey 
hills,  forty-six  families,  including  five  who  lived  a  few  rods 

in  separate  parts  of  ye  town  according  to  ye  town  act,  and  advice  of  ye  Asso- 
ciation thereon.  Therefore,  not  reasonable  that  a  rate  should  be  made  on  ye 
whole  town  to  pay  Mr.  Woodbridge.  The  above  written  was  voted  in  ye 
affirmative,  and  voted  to  be  entered  on  record." 


68  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

easterly  of  the  town  line,  within  the  bounds  of  Windsor  ; 
and  in  Salmon  brook,  including'  the  Falls  and  Higley's  set- 
tlement, forty-eight  families.* 

At  the  May  Session  1734,  the  inhabitants  of  Salmon  brook 
again  petitioned  for  parish  powers  and  privileges;  the  soci- 
ety to  embrace  the  same  territorial  limits,  as  was  expressed 
in  their  former  petition.  Among  the  reasons  stated  for  this 
request,  is  the  following: — "Seventhly — the  great  hopes 
we  have  of  obtaining  a  young  candidate  for  the  ministry  to 
be  our  minister,  whom  we  have  hired  for  near  fifteen  months 
past  upon  our  own  charge,  being  obliged,  all  the  while,  to 
pay  our  proportionable  part  to  our  minister  at  town."  This 
petition  was  also  negatived,  probably  for  the  reason  that  the 
three  years,  before  spoken  of,  had  not  yet  expired. 

In  May  1735,  upon  several  memorials  from  different  parts 
of  the  town,  praying  that  it  might  be  divided  into  several 
Ecclesiastical  societies,  the  General  Assembly  passed  a  reso- 
lution, in  which,  it  is  stated,  that  "  considering  the  divided 
state  of  Simsbury,  and  how  often  the  inhabitants  of  that 
place  have,  in  their  town  meetings,  altered  and  changed 
their  votes,"  the  Assembly  "do  not  think  it  proper  to  con- 
firm the  lines,  prayed  for,  in  order  to  divide  the  town  into 

*  It  would  seem,  fronv  the  following  proceedings,  that  at  this  time  Mr. 
Woodbridge  had  removed  his  family  from  the  town. 

"  At  a  town  meeting  held  in  June  1733,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
enquire  of  Mr.  Woodbridge  whether  he  intended  to  continue  with  the  people 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry  as  formerly,  and  whether  he  would  return  with 
his  family  into  the  town  again.     The  committee  reported  as  follows  : — 

1st.  "  Whether  he  intends  to  continue  with  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
Answer : — in  that  matter  I  intend  to  follow  my  duty  as  I  shall  learn  it  from 
the  word  of  God,  with  the  best  help  I  can  obtain  from  the  wisest  and  best  of 
men  I  can. 

2d.  Whether  I  shall  return  with  my  family. — I  have  not  determined  that  I 
will  not,  but  if  the  difficulties  of  the  town,  in  what  they  can  remove,  be  not 
removed,  it  looks  as  if  I  should  not,  but  am  willing  to  refer  myself  to  proper 
judges  for  advice.  Timothy  Woodbridge." 

The  next  year,  1734,  the  town  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Woodbridge's  salary  for 
the  preceding  year.  In  17o5,  an  action  was  commenced  by  Mr.  Woodbridge 
against  the  town  for  arrears  of  his  salary  unpaid. 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  69 

separate  societies,  without  further  enquiry  ;"  and  therefore 
they  appointed  another  committee  "to  repair  to  the  town, 
at  the  cliaig-e  thereof,  and  to  hear  the  parties  in  reference  to 
the  question  of  forming-  separate  societies."  The  committee 
were  directed  to  "  order  the  inhabitants,  in  reference  to  the 
place,  or  places,  where  they  shall  attend  public  worship, 
until  the  rising  of  this  Assembly  in  October  next,  to  which 
order  the  said  inhabitants  shall  conform,  during  said  time  ;" 
and,  if  deemed  needful  to  divide  the  town  into  distinct  soci- 
eties, the  committee  were  directed  to  describe  and  set  forth 
the  bounds  of  such  societies,  and  to  make  their  report  to  the 
next  session. 

In  May,  1735,  another  town  meeting  was  held,  when  a 
vole  was  passed,  by  a  majority  exceeding  two-thirds  of  the 
voters  present,  requesting  that  the  town  might  be  divided 
into  two  societies,  the  division  line  to  be  at  Hoskins'  hill, 
the  "dug  way"  oefore  described,  and  appointing  James  Case, 
and  John  Humphrey,  a  committee  to  apply,  in  behalf  of 
the  town,  to  the  legislature,  for  the  incorporation  of  two 
societies,  in  conformity  with  the  vote  of  the  town. 

A  committee  was  appointed  on  this  application,  and  upon 
their  report,  the  General  Assembly,  at  the  next  session, 
October,  1735,  ordered  that  the  town  "  be  divided  into  two 
distinct  ecclesiastical  societies,  with  powers  and  privileges 
of  societies,"  and  that  the  division  line  between  them  be 
established  at  the  "dug  way." 

But  this  decision,  like  all  former  ones,  gave  great  dissat- 
isfaction to  a  large  portion  of  the  inhabitants.  Instead  of 
allaying  the  spirit  of  discord,  it  served  only  to  increase  it 
still  higher.  The  people  of  4he  north  society,  being  sepa- 
rated into  distinct  and  remote  settlements,  and  having  no 
common  center,  desired  to  be  incorporated  into  /?/;o societies; 
and  the  south  society  were  strongly  opposed  to  the  divis- 
ional line  being  established  at  tlie  dug  way, — contending, 
that  it  ought  to  be  fixed  at  Saxton's  brook. 

A  meeting  of  the  south  society  was  held,  which  was  very 
fidly  attended, — eighty-two  voters  being  present.     On  the 
question  "  whether  they  wanted  a  meeting-house,  or  not,"  the 
7 


70  HISTORY    OF    SI MSBURY. 

vote  Stood,  forty-one  in  the  affirmative,  and  the  same  num- 
ber in  tlie  negative.  The  society  also  refused  to  make  any 
provision  for  the  support  of  the  ministry.  The  north  society 
voted,  by  a  large  majority,  that  they  too  did  not  want  a  meet- 
ing-house. 

The  next  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  held  in  May, 
1736,  was  troubled  more  than  usual  with  petitions,  from 
every  section  of  the  tov/n,  all  complaining  of  injustice,  of 
some  kind  or  other,  and  asking  for  relief,  Mr.  Woodbridge, 
too,  found  it  necessary  to  make  another  application  for  the 
interposition  of  the  Assembly,  to  enable  him  to  obtain  his 
salary  ;  in  wliich  petition,  alluding  to  their  difficulties  gen- 
erally, he  speaks  of  a  class  as  entertaining  "  a  secret  design 
of  injustice,  or  hope  of  holding  themselves  up,  as  the  head 
of  a  party,  to  perpetuate  our  present  miseries." 

By  reason  of  these  petitions,  the  Assembly  appointed 
another  committee,  consisting  of  Roger  Wolcott,  James 
Wadsworth,  and  Thomas  Wells,  Esqrs.,  who,  after  hearing 
the  parties,  and  considering  the  various  subjects  in  contro- 
versy, were  directed  "  to  make  their  report  how  they  find 
the  true  state  of  the  matters,  laid  in  said  memorials,  with 
their  opinion  thereupon,  to  this  Assembly,  in  October  next.'^ 

Upon  report  of  this  committee,  made  at  the  next  session, 
October,  1736,  Wintonbury  society  was  formed,  to  which 
was  annexed  the  inhabitants  residing  in  the  south-east  sec- 
tion of  the  town',  and  three  other  societies,  the  South,  Sal- 
mon brook,  and  Turkey  hills,  by  boundaries  as  they  at 
present  exist,  excepting  the  last  named  society,  to  which  at 
a  subsequent  period,  was  annexed  a  small  part  of  Windsor 
and  Suffield. 

The  question,  so  far  as  it  regarded  the  formation  of  sepa- 
rate societies,  was  thus  settled,  but  the  one  not  less  impor- 
tant, to  wit,  the  location  of  the  respective  meeting-houses 
was  left  undecided.  Nor  does  it  appear  that  any  movement 
was  made,  for  some  considerable  time,  in  either  of  the  socie- 
ties, in  reference  to  a  settlement  of  this  matter.  Probably, 
all  parties  felt  disposed  to  drop  the  contest  for  a  while. 
But,  in  none  of  them,  was  the  question  settled  in  society 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  71 

meetings.  In  May,  1738,  the  Assembly,  on  report  of  a 
committee  previously  appointed,  fixed  the  site  of  the  meet- 
ing-house in  Turkey  hills  society; — and,  in  October,  1739, 
they  did  the  same  in  respect  to  the  other  two  societies.  The 
site  of  the  house  for  Salmon  brook  society,  (then  called  the 
north-west  society,)  was  established  at  the  north  end  of 
Salmon  brook  street,  on  the  hill  near  the  burying  ground. 
The  place  where  the  first  society  were  ordered  to  build  theii 
meeting-house,  was  on  Drake's  hill  on  the  west  side  of  the 
road,  being  near  the  location  of  the  present  meeting-house. 

Thus  was  terminated  a  controversy  which,  for  the  bitter 
feelings  it  engendered,  and  the  length  of  time  it  continued, 
has  no  parallel,  in  this  State,  uponany  similar  subject.  The 
quarrel  was  general,  if  not  universal ;  few,  if  any,  being 
able  to  avoid  its  influence.  It  destroyed  social  intercourse, 
broke  up  the  chu/bh,  and  in  a  great  measure  prevented 
public  worship.  During  three  years,  from  1731  to  1733 
inclusive,  owing  to  this  excited  state  of  feeling,  the  legisla- 
ture deemed  it  inexpedient  to  appoint  any  Justices  of  the 
Peace  in  the  town. 

The  excitement  did  not  immediately  subside.  But,  in 
•process  of  time,  when  bridges  were  built  across  the  river — 
roads  improved — and  settlements  had  extended  westerly  in 
the  town,  all  parties,  if  not  exactly  suited,  cheerfully  acqui- 
esced in  the  final  decision  of  the  controversy. 

Each  society  took  measures  to  erect  its  house  for  public 
worship.  The  first  society,  in  December,  1739,  voted  to 
build  their  house  of  the  dimensions  of  fifty  by  forty  feet,  and 
to  place  it  on  Drake's  hill.  The  building  was  not  so  far 
completed  as  to  be  fit  for  occupation  until  1743,  and  was  not 
plastered  until  1752.  It  was  repaired  and  materially  im- 
proved in  1777,  and  painted,  it  is  believed  for  the  first  time, 
in  1786. 

The  construction  of  the  meeting-houses,  belonging  to  the 
other  two  societies,  will  be  mentioned  in  the  Chapter  relating 
to  the  history  of  Granby. 

After  the  division  of  the  town  into  three  societies,  in  1737, 
all  ecclesiastical  affairs,  instead  of  being  managed  as  up  to 


72  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

that  time  they  had  been  b}^  the  town,  were  conducted  by 
the  several  societies.  The  old  society  was  thereafter  known 
by  the  name  of  the  south  society. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Woodbridge,  the  society  voted 
to  apply  to  Mr.  Samuel  Hopkins  to  supply  the  pulpit. 
This  was  the  distinguished  divine  who  subsequently  became 
the  celebrated  founder  of  the  Hopkinsonian  system  of  Divin- 
ity. He  preached  in  Simsbury  about  six  months.  At  this 
time,  he  was  quite  young,  and  had  but  recently  been  licens- 
ed to  preach. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1743,  the  Rev.  Gideon  Mills  was 
employed  as  preacher.  He  was  invited  to  settle,  and 
accepted  the  invitation,  April,  1744.  He  was  ordained  in 
the  following  September,  and  dismissed  in  September,  1754 ; 
but  continued  to  supply  the  pulpit  until  March,  1755. 

The  next  minister  was  Mr.  John  Searl,  who  remained 
here  but  a  few  months.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Sharon, 
where  he  was  settled. 

In  the  fall  of  1756,  the  Rev.  Benajah  Roots  was  employ- 
ed on  probation.  He  was  ordained  August  10.  1757,  and, 
dismissed  in  the  summer  of  1772.  During  the  last  three  or 
four  years  of  his  ministry,  he  liad  much  difficulty  with  the 
church  and  congregation.  He  removed  to  Vermont,  where 
after  preaching  some  years,  he  died. 

After  Mr.  Roots,  Mr.  Jonathan  Murdock,  Mr.  Patten,  of 
Hartford,  and  Mr.  David  Parsons,  Jr.,  of  Amherst,  were 
severally  employed,  the  two  first  named  for  short  terms  only. 
In  1775,  the  society  gave  Mr.  Parsons  a  call  to  settle,  but 
the  invitation  was  declined. 

In  1776,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stebbins  commenced  his  min- 
isterial labors  in  this  society.  He  was  ordained  December 
10,  1777,  and  continued  in  the  pastoral  office  twenty-nine 
years.     He  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  Nov.  17,  1806. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  for  about  two  years  thereafter, 
by  several  clergymen,  among  whom  was  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Robbing,  D.  D.,  the  present  Librarian  of  the  Connecticut 
Historical  Society,  who  officiated  about  seven  months. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Allen  McLean,  was  ordained 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  73 

in  August,  1809.  During  his  long  ministry,  his  faithful 
and  efficient  services  have  given  great  satisfaction,  and  the 
church  and  congregation,  under  his  watchful  care,  have 
enjoj^ed  a  large  share  of  prosperity  and  harmony. 

In  1830,  the  old  meeting  house,  which  had  stood  nearly 
ninety  years,  was  taken  down,  and  a  new  one  erected  in  its 
place.  The  new  edifice  is  a  spacious,  handsome  and  well- 
constructed  building,  having  a  tower  and  bell.  It  is  beau- 
tifully situated  on  ground  slightly  elevated,  and  commands 
a  fine  view  of  the  Massacoe  meadows.  When  this  house 
was  built,  several  stately  oaks,  bearing  the  marks  of  great 
age,  and  adding  beauty  and  comfort  to  the  place,  were  cut 
down.  It  is  a  pity  that  the  progress  of  modern  improvements 
has  advanced  so  far  as  to  require  the  destruction  of  such 
useful  and  ornamental  appendages  to  public  as  well  as  pri- 
vate buildings.     The  new  house  was  dedicated  Dec.  1830. 

St.  Andrew's  parish  of  Episcopalians  is  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  State.  It  owes  its  establishment  to  the  unhappy 
controversy  before  mentioned,  relating  to  ecclesiastical 
affairs  in  the  town.  In  1740,  six  persons,  and  in  1743, 
tw^enty-seven  others,  nearly  all  of  whom  resided  at  the 
settlement  called  Scotland,  separated  from  the  old  society, 
and  connected  themselves  with  the  Episcopal  church,  then 
called  the  "  Church  of  England."  Timber  for  a  church 
edifice  was  procured  in  1740,  and  the  building  was  erected 
soon  afterwards.  It  stood  at  the  northerly  side  of  the  bury- 
ing ground  in  Scotland — was  a  small.,  plain  structure,  never 
painted,  and  never  wholly  finished  inside.  The  Rev.  Will- 
iam Gibbs  was  the  first  preacher  to  this  congregation.  He 
was  a  missionary,  sent  out  by  a  society  instituted  in  England 
for  the  "  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,"  and  officiated  as  Rec- 
tor of  the  parish  many  years.  Towards  the  close  of  his  life^ 
ill  health  prevented  his  preaching,  but  it  did  not  in  the  least 
diminish  his  ardor  in  the  cause  of  Episcopacy,  or  his  affec- 
tion for  his  parishioners.  Few  clergymen  have  lived  more 
beloved,  or  died  more  lamented.  His  good  name  yet  sur- 
vives, though  nearly  seventy  years  have  passed  since  his 
decease.  He  died  a  bachelor. 
7* 


74  HISTORY    OF     SIMSBURY. 

The  Rev.  Roger  Viets  was  his  successor.  He  was  a 
native  of  the  town,  and  officiated  as  Rector  but  a  few  years. 
His  residence  was  in  a  secluded  spot,  near  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  on  the  old  road  leading  from  Scotland  to  Tariff- 
ville.  He  was  uncle  of  the  late  Bishop  Griswold.  Mr. 
Viets  removed  to  Nova  Scotia  during  the  war,  where  he 
died. 

The  next  Rector  was  the  Rev.  Ambrose  Todd.  After 
preaching  a  number  of  years  in  the  parish,  he  removed  into 
Fairfield  County,  where  he  died.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Cornwall 
officiated  also  a  number  of  years,  dividing  his  services 
between  this  parish  and  another  one  at  Salmon  brook.  The 
present  incumbent  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Warner.  Besides  these, 
a  number  of  other  gentlemen  have  been  employed,  each 
for  a  short  time. 

A  new  church  was  erected  in  1806.  It  was  placed  nearly 
two  miles  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the  old  one.  This 
location,  however,  operating  against  the  interests  of  the 
parish,  as  it  was  supposed,  Avas  afterwards  changed,  and 
the  building  was  taken  down,  and  removed  back  to  the  old 
site,  where  the  present  church  was  rebuilt  in  1830.  The 
church  now  stands  within  the  limits  of  Bloomfield,  the  east- 
ern part  of  Simsbury,  within  which  the  church  was  situated, 
having  been  annexed  to  that  town  in  1843. 

The  Methodists  commenced  holding  religious  meetings 
in  the  town,  more  than  forty  years  ago.  Until  within  a 
few  years,  these  meetings  were  held  in  school  houses  and 
private  dwellings.  In  1840,  they  erected  a  neat  church 
which  stands  on  Hop  meadow  street,  about  one  third  of  a 
mile  north  of  the  Congregational  church.  The  building 
has  a  portico,  tower  and  bell,  and  was  dedicated  in  Sep- 
tember of  that  year,  on  which  occasion,  the  Rev.  Professor 
Holdich,  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  preached  the  sermon. 
The    present   officiating  minister  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Scofield. 

The  Baptists  have  a  small  congregation  at  TariflVille, 
which  meets  at  present  for  divine  service  in  the  second  story 
of  a  large  building,  erected  in  part  for  this  purpose.  The 
Congregationalists  hold  meetings  also  in  the  same  village, 
where  they  are  taking  measures   to  erect  a  meeting-house. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


General  History  continued  from  Chapter  11 .    Mills.    Common  FieWs.    Distribution  of 
unlocated  Lands.    Fisliery.    Miscellaneous.    1679—1725. 

It  has  already  been  stated  in  Chapter  II,  that  the  inhab- 
itants returned  to  Simsbury  in  the  spring  of  1677,  and  com- 
menced rebuilding-  the  town  which  had  been  destroyed  by 
the  Indians  in  the  preceding  year. 

The  process,  however,  of  repairing  the  injury  sustained, 
and  of  restoring  the  condition  of  the  settlement  to  its  former 
prosperity,  was  slow,  and,  at  times,  extremely  discouraging. 
Some  of  the  former  inhabitants  did  not  return,  and  but  few 
new  ones  were  found  to  take  their  places.  The  perils  of 
the  times,  with  the  danger  to  which  the  town  from  its  posi- 
tion was  exposed,  offered  but  few  inducements  to  any  but 
the  most  daring,  or  the  most  destitute  in  circumstances,  to 
exchange  places  of  security  for  one  encompassed  with  so 
many  dangers,  and  containing,  withal],  so  few  comforts. 

Owing  to  these  adverse  circumstances,  with  others  which 
will  be  hereafter  mentioned,  the  town  remained  in  a  de- 
pressed condition,  increasing,  it  is  supposed,  but  little  in 
wealth  or  population,  for  a  period  of  about  ten  years  after 
the  war  in  1676.  The  inhabitants,  if  not  poor,  were  gen- 
erally in  moderate  circumstances.  They  could  make  but 
few  public  improvements.  And  although  several  attempts 
were  made  to  advance  the  grovsrth  of  the  settlement,  it  was 
not  until  about  1689  that  its  prospects  assumed  a  more 
cheering  aspect. 

The  dwellings  of  the  first  settlers  consisted  of  log  huts, 
covered  with  thatch  or  bark,  without  windows,  and  often 
without  floorings.  Subsequently,  when  saw  mills  had  been 
erected,  and  better  building  materials  could  be  obtained, 
some  improvement  in  these  edifices  took  place,  though  the 
best  of  them  would,  at  the  present  day,  be  deemed  almost 


76  HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY. 

untenantable.  The  inventories  of  estates  administered 
upon  at  this  period,  show  that  but  a  few  phiin  and  cheap 
articles  of  furniture  were  then  in  use.  Stools  and  forms 
were  substituted  for  chairs,  of  which  latter  article  but  few 
families  could  afford  the  expense  of  procuring.  The  appa- 
rel of  both  sexes  was  generally  of  domestic  manufacture, 
and  for  the  most  part  such  as  each  family  made  for  its  own 
use — the  winter  garments  of  the  men  being  made  chiefly  of 
undressed  home-made  cloth.  For  lights,  candlewood  was 
used  very  generally.*  The  inhabitants  were  a  plain,  indus- 
trious and  economical  people,  increasing  in  wealth  only  in 
proportion  as  their  respective  farms  were  cleared  for  culti- 
vation, and  stocked  with  cattle  ;^for  they  derived  but  little 
if  any  benefit  from  any  market  for  their  surplus  produce. 
But  a  few  sheep  were  kept  in  town  at  this  period,  for  the 
reason,  that  they  could  not  be  protected  from  the  ravages  of 
wolves  and  other  beasts  of  prey  with  which  the  forests  then 
abounded.! 

*  In  an  Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Joseph  Parsons,  who  died  in  1687,  the 
candlewood  belonging  to  the  estate  was  appraised  at  £l  10  0.  This  article 
was  almost  universally  used  for  lights  at  this  time.  It  consisted  of  dry  pine 
knots,  and  other  portions  of  pine  trees  strongly  saturated  with  pitch,  and  split 
into  sizes  convenient  for  use.  But  a  few  articles  of  household  furniture 
belonged  to  this  estate,  all  of  which  (exclusive  of  one  bed,  set  in  the  Inven- 
tory at  £2  15  0,)  would  not  be  appraised,  at  the  present  time,  over  six  dol- 
lars;— although  the  deceased  was  comparatively  a  person  of  wealth  for  those 
times. 

t  During  many  years  after  the  commencement  of  the  settlement,  the  inhab- 
itants were  much  annoyed  by  wild  beasts.  Bears  and  wolves  were  so  plenty, 
as  to  be  particularly  troublesome  as  neighbors.  So  disastrous  were  the  ravages 
of  the  latter,  that  the  town,  for  many  years,  allowed  a  large  bounty  for  their 
destruction,  payable  from  the  treasury.  Wolf  pits  were  frequent,  some  of 
which  are  still  to  be  found  in  the  forests.  On  Drake's  hill,  north  of  the  meet- 
ing-house, is  an  excavation  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  made  for  this  pur- 
pose. About  1700,  Joseph  Phelps  was  attacked  by  a  wounded  bear  which, 
in  the  encounter,  so  lacerated  his  right  hand  as  to  deprive  him  of  its  use 
thereafter.     But  the  bear  was  conquered  and  killed. 

Deer  were  so  numerous  as  to  supply,  in  a  great  measure,  meats  for  the 
inhabitants  many  years.  This  food  was  sold  at  a  cheaper  price  than  beef, 
pork,  or  mutton.  Great  care  was  taken  to  preserve  these  animals  by  con- 
structing _parks  for  their  confinement.    One  of  these  parks,  according  to 


HISTORY    OP     SIMSBURY.  77 

The  boundary  line  between  Simsbury  and  Windsor,  after 
a  long  controversy,  was  surveyed  and  designated  in  1679, 
by  acommittee  appointed  by  the  General  Court.  This  line, 
it  is  supposed,  remained  as  then  run,  until  a  portion  of  Sims- 
bury  was  annexed  to  Bloomfield  in  1843. 

The  first  mills  erected  in  town  were  situated  on  Hop 
brook,  near  the  present  site  of  TuUer's  mills,  and  were  built 
in  1679.  These  consisted  of  a  grist  and  saw  mill,  and  were 
put  up  by  Thomas  Barber,  John  Moses,  John  Terry  and 
Ephraim  Howard,  who  contracted  with  the  town  to  keep  the 
mills  in  good  repair, — to  grind  grain  for  the  tolls  allowed  by 
law, — to  sell  to  the  inhabitants  boards  at  four  and  sixpence 
per  hundred, — and  not  to  transport  oak  to  any  other  town. 
In  consideration  of  which,  the  town  allowed  them  the  mill 
privileges, — the  right  to  take  timber  on  the  common  lands, — 
a  lot  of  good  timber  land, — and  twenty  pounds  payable  in 
town  rates.  The  place  has  been  occupied  as  a  mill  seat  up 
to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-six 
years.  About  the  same  time,  a  saw-mill  was  erected  below 
the  falls,  in  Scotland,  by  Ephraim  Howard. 

The  first  records  of  the  town,  as  before  stated,  were  burnt, 
and  probably  before  1680.  Many  of  the  acts  of  the  town 
however,  passed  before  this  time,  appear  on  the  subsequent 
records.  The  date  of  the  first  entry,  in  the  present  first 
Book  of  Records,  is  January  19,  1670-1,  and  relates  to  the 
allowance  of  a  bounty  for  killing  a  wolf.  The  first  record 
of  the  election  of  selectmen,  then  called  townsmen,  is  in 
1677,  when  sergeant  John  Griffin,  Joshua  Holcomb,  and 
Samuel  Wilcoxson  were  chosen.  John  Terry  was  elected 
register,  or  clerk,  at  the  organization  of  the  town  in  1670; — 
a  few  years  afterwards,  and  before  1680,  John  Slater  was 
appointed. 

In  1683,  the  town  "  voted  to  give  Thomas  Barber  ten 
shillings  yearly  for  the  beating  of  the  drume  on  the  sabboth 

tradition,  was  on  the  hill  between  the  houses  of  Elisha  Phelps  Esq.  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  M'Lean.  As  late  as  176S,  Mr.  Thomas  Case  had  a  park  at  Wea- 
tauge.     It  is  believed  few  if  any  "deer  were  found  in  the  town  after  1775. 


78  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

dayes."  This  practice  of  using  a  drum  to  call  together  the 
people  on  days  of  public  worship,  was  continued  about 
seventy  years  after  this  time.  Andrew  Robe  was  the  last 
person  employed  in  this  service.*  The  same  practice,  it  is 
believed,  extended  very  generally  throughout  the  Colony. 

The  following  copy  from  the  records  of  the  town,  shows, 
better  than  can  be  otherwise  expressed,  the  sentiments  of 
our  forefathers  concerning  matters  of  a  controversial  nature. 
It  would  have  been  well  had  the  principle,  then  adopted, 
been  adhered  to  in  subsequent  times,  when  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  obtained  some  notoriety  for  their  proneness  to 
settle  all  disputes  by  the  adjudication  of  courts  and  juries. 

"December  1,  1681.  We  the  inhabitants  of  Sinrisbury,  being 
met  together  the  first  of  ye  10th  moneth  1681,  being  desireous 
hence  forward  to  live  in  love  and  peace,  mutually  to  the  glory  of 
God,  and  our  own  peace  and  comfort, — to  prevent  after  animosi- 
ties and  uncomfortable  variences,  do  make  this  act, that  when- 
soever any  difference  may  arisse  in  any  of  our  civill  Transactions, 
yt  after  we  have  given  our  reasons  mutually  one  to  another,  and 
cannot  by  the  meanes  be  brought  together,  that  to  a  finall  issue  of 
our  difference,  we  will  committ  the  matter,  with  our  reasons  ^^ro. 
and  con,  to  the  worshipefuU  Major  Talcott,  and  captain  Allyn,  to 

heare  as  presented  in  writing ; and  that  we   will  sit  downe  to 

their  award  or  determination  ; — this  voted  and  concluded,  for  a 
standing  record  for  hence  forward." 

But  a  small  portion  of  the  inhabitants  had  the  means  of 
enclosing  their  improved  lands  by  fences.  And  as  their 
horses,  cattle  and  swine  were,  from  necessity,  sufl'ered  to 
roam  at  large  in  the  forests  for  subsistence,  the  crops,  being 
left  unprotected,  were  consequently  often  destroyed.  This 
perhaps,  more  than  any  other  cause,  increased  the  embar- 
rassments of  the  people,  b}'^  subjecting  them  to  an  additional 
weight  of  poverty,  or,  as  the  case  might  be,  by  depriving 
them  of  food  for  sustenance. 

To  remedy  this  evil,  resort  was  had  to  the  formation  of 
common  fields  by  town  enactments,  or  voluntary  associa- 
tions.   But,  as  these  orders  or  agreements  were  not  complied 

*  17413,  December.  In  society  meeting; — "  Voted,  that  the  standing  com- 
mittee cause  the  drum  to  be  beat  on  sabboth  days,  to  notify  ye  parisli  when  to 
begin  meeting." 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  79 

with  by  all  the  proprietors,  and,  in  the  then  state  of  society, 
could  not  be  enforced,  the  scheme  proved  ineffectual,  and, 
after  a  few  years  was  abandoned. 

In  this  condition  of  affairs  a  town  meeting  was  convened 
to  consider  the  subject,  and  adopt  measures  for  redress.  The 
meeting  resolved  to  lay  the  whole  subject  matter  before  the 
General  Court  by  a  petition  for  relief,  and  appointed  the 
selectmen  to  manage  the  affair.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  petition  presented.  It  is  a  document  no  less  inter- 
esting than  strange  if,  as  it  undoubtedly  does,  it  correctly 
delineates  the  condition  of  the  town  at  that  time. 

^    "  From  Simsbury,  this  14th  October  1687. 

To  this  Honored  General  Court The  petittion  of  the  under 

written  is  as  followeth  ; — 

That  whereas,  we  the  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  and  planters  in 
this  place,  by  the  blessing  of  god  upon  our  labours,  have  been  from 
year  to  year  in  Good  hopes  and  expectation  of  a  comfortable  and 
considerabl  harvist,  as  may  be  made  apparant  by  the  fair  and 
promising  show  upon  our  lands  ; — yet  are  we  yearly  so  Destroyed 
and  devoured  one  of  another — When  we  have  bestowed  our 
labours  and  Charges,  and  se  apparently  good  hops  of  a  comfortabl 
harvist,  then  is  our  labours  devouored  and  destroyed  one  by  his 
Neighbour,  and  every  man  of  and  by  one  an  other  without  reiiefe, 
that  it  is  a  most  grevious  and  perplexing  consideration :  and  have 
tryed  many  wayes  to  prevent  such  Intolerable  losses  by  layeing 
out  fences  to  such  lands  here  in  Simsbury  and  enclosurs  as  has 
ben  for  use  both  for  corn  and  grasse  :  yet  our  orders  and  labours 
has  not  ben  attended,  so  that  to  this  day  our  Cornfields  lye  exceed- 
ingly hazerdous  and  our  labours  to  be  destroyed,  which  if  there 
be  not  som  speedy  care  taken  of  us  that  our  meadows  and  corn 
fields  be  secured,  and  our  crops  preserved,  we  shall  be  very  much 
empoverished :  neither  shall  we  be  able  to  carry  on  any  publique 
deuties,  either  in  ecclessiastical  matters  or  civill  afFayres  :  and  see- 
ing that  it  is  wondered  at  why  Simsbury  men  are  so  poor,  the  judi- 
cious may  easily  discerne  the  reason  of  the  same  :  so  that  in  sense 
thereof  we  do  most  earnestly  begg,  pray  and  Implore  this  honnered 
Court  to  take  vs  and  our  most  sad  estate,  into  your  serious  Con- 
siderason  and  find  out  some  way  for  our  reiiefe  and  welfare,  or  else 
we  may  labour  yearly,  and  the  earth  by  the  blessing  of  god  bring 
forth  much,  and  yet  it  will  be  as  it  hath  been  frequently  destroyed  : 
so  that  we  pray  entreat  your  worships  to  aflbrd  us  some  reiiefe. 
And  in  hopes  shall  crave  leave  to  subscribe  our  selves  your  hum- 
ble pettitioners.  Joshua  Holcombe, 

Samuel  Wilcockson, 
John  Higley, 

Selek  men  of  Simsbury." 


OU  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

By  means  of  this  and  similar  applications,  a  committee, 
consisting  of  Samuel  Talcotf,  Nathaniel  Stanley  and  Cyp- 
rian Nichols,  all  belonging  to  Hartford,  was  appointed,  who, 
after  hearing  the  parties  and  viewing  the  ground,  decided 
and  ordered,  December,  1689,  that  "  the  meadows  and 
other  improvable  lands,"  lying  upon  the  river  from  Farm- 
ington  bounds  to  John  Higley's  farm,  be  fenced  on  each 
side  of  the  river — thus  making  two  large  common  fields, 
divided  by  the  river,  extending  about  seven  miles  in  length. 
The  lines  were  staked  out,  and  the  proportion  of  fence  to 
be  built  by  each  proprietor  designated.  These  lines  enclosed 
nearly  all  the  lands  at  that  time  improved  within  the  pres- 
ent boundaries  of  Simsbury.  They  did  not,  it  is  supposed, 
cross  the  two  main  roads  running  on  each  side  of,  and  para- 
lel  with  the  river,  except  at  east  Weatauge,  but  were  laid 
out  near  to  them. 

Many  of  the  proprietors  were  strongly  opposed  to  this 
decision  of  the  committee,  on  the  ground  of  alleged  ine- 
quality in  the  division  of  fences  ordered  to  be  built,  and 
refused  to  comply  w^ith  the  order ;  whilst  others,  from  ina- 
bility, neglected  to  build  their  portions  as  required.  It  was 
many  years  before  all  these  fences  were  built.  Several  per- 
sons were  prosecuted  for  offences  growing  out  of  these 
transactions.  In  May,  1698,  as  the  record  states,  "  John 
Umphrie,  of  Simsbury,  was  fined  40  shillings,  for  breaking 
down  some  part  of  the  common  fence." 

At  an  early  period,  a  controversy  arose  concerning  a  divis- 
ion of  the  "out  lands,"  as  they  weie  then  termed.  The 
question  was  whether  these  lands,  which  included  all  that 
had  not  been  granted  to  particular  individuals,  belonged  to 
the  original  proprietors  of  the  town  and  their  heirs,  or  to  the 
inhabitants,  generally,  of  the  town.  At  a  meeting  held  in 
April  1672,  the  town  voted  to  divide  a  portion  of  these  out- 
lands  amongst  the  then  present  inhabitants  of  the  town. 
By  this  division,  each  inhabitant  received  an  equal  propor- 
tion, though  but  a  small  part  of  the  lands  was  thus  disposed 
of.     But,  at  a  subsequent  meeting  held  in  March  1680,  the 


HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY.  81 

town,  in  consideration  of  the  inequality  of  such  a  division, 
voted  to  rescind  and  reverse  this  act. 

The  townalso  voted  January  23, 1680-1,  to  divide,  among 
certain  persons,  a  tract  of  land  lying  in  the  vicinity  of 
Sahiion  hrook  ;  and  in  May  1688,  it  granted  to  sundry  other 
persons  a  large  portion  of  that  part  of  Turkey  hills  lying 
east  of  the  mountain.  These  last  mentioned  grants,  how- 
ever, were  annulled  by  the  town  in  1693,  when  another 
disposition  of  these  lands  was  made. 

Upon  report  of  a  committee,  previously  appointed  upon 
this  subject,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge,  Capt. 
Thomas  Holcomb  and  Lieut.  John  Pettibone,  the  town 
voted,  April  28,  1719,  "  that  the  right  of  disposal  of  the 
common  or  undivided  land  in  the  township  of  Simsbury  is, 
and  shall  be,  vested  in  all  such,  and  in  them  only,  who  can 
derive  their  power  so  to  do  either  from  an  act  of  the  Gen- 
eral Asseml)ly,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns,  or  those  who 
have  been  admitted  inhabitants,  and  their  heirs  and  assigns, 
by  a  major  part  of  the  town  regularly  convened,  or  shall  be 
hereafter  admitted  inhabitants  with  that  right  and  power  of 
disposal  expressly  inserted  in  the  town's  vote  for  admission." 
And  after  making  provision  for  a  sufficiency  of  land  suitable 
for  a  "  commonage  convenient  as  maybe  for  the  several 
squadrons  of  the  town,"  the  town  voted  "  that  the  remain- 
ing land  be  sequestered  to  the  town,  qualified  as  above,  to 
be  granted  as  the  major  part  shall  allow  of,  said  major  part 
to  be  accoimted,  not  by  number  of  persons,  but  by  a  true  list 
of  their  rateable  estate." 

These  acts  of  the  town  gavt  great  offense  to  the  original 
proprietors,  or  those  who  held  rights  under  them,  but  espe- 
cially to  that  portion  who  were  large  share  holders; — they 
claiming:  the  exclusive  right  to  all  the  common  and  undivi- 
ded  lands, .and  protesting,  at  every  step,  against  the  disposal 
of  them  by  the  town.  But  the  town,  possessing  the  numer- 
ical strength,  and  doubtless  deeming  the  legal  title  to  the 
property  to  be  vested  in  the  corporation,  proceeded  to  make 
grants  to  a  large  number  of  individuals,  in  puisuance  of  the 
town  votes  before  stated.     Accordingly,  at  a  town  meeting 


82 


HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY, 


called  "to  consider  how  to  divide  the  common  land,"  held 
December  31,  1723,  which  was  cnnfinued  for  three  successive 
days,  and  nearly  one  whole  night,  (the  night  meeting  being" 
held  at  the  house  of  Andrew  Robe,)  grants  were  made  to 
the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants.  This  induced  the  pro- 
prietors to  apply  to  the  legislature  for  relief.  Buttlie  relief 
souglit  for  was  not  granted  until  some  years  afterwards, 
when  a  general  law  was  enacted,  which  vested  the  property 
of  unappropriated  lands  in  the  proprietors  of  the  several 
towns  and  their  assigns.  After  this,  the  common  lands 
remaining  undivided  in  Simsbury,  were  managed  and  con- 
veyed exclusively  by  a  committee  appointed  by  those  who 
held  proprietary  rights,  at  meetings  held  annually.  The 
last  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  about  thirty  years 
since. 

None  of  the  grants  of  land  above  mentioned,  made  in 
1723,  exceeded  in  c[uantity  to  any  one  person,  (except  in 
one  case)  two  hundred  acres.  Five  persons  had  each  this 
quantity,  and  the  others  a  less  quantity,  varying  from  one 
hundred  and  fifty  to  forty  acres  each.  The  grants  were 
apportioned,  it  is  believed,  by  the  respective  amounts  of  the 
grantees  lists  of  estates.  The  exception,  above  referred  to, 
was  the  grant  made  to  John  Griffin,  which  was  very  large, 
being  nearly  or  quite  one  and  a  half  miles  square.  Its 
boundaries  were, — beginning  at  the  island  above  the  falls, 
thence  northerly  one  and  a  half  miles,  easterly  to  the  moun- 
tain, southerly  to  the  river,  and  thence  b)^  the  river  to  the 
island.  This  grant,  it  is  supposed,  was  made  in  considera- 
tion of  a  relinquishment  to  the  plantation  by  Mr.  Griffin, 
of  his  title  derived  from  the  Indian  deeds  Ijefore  mentioned. 

The  patent  of  Simsbury,  in  confirmation  of  the  original 
grant  of  the  territory  made  in  1670,  was  granted  at  the  May 
session,  1685,  and  is  dated  INIarch  11,  1685-6.  It  conveys 
to  "Major  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  Ensign 
John  Terry,  Mr.  John  Case,  Mr.  Joshua  Holcomb,  Mr. 
Samuel  Wilcox,  Mr.  John  Higley,  Mr.  Thomas  Barber,  and 
the  rest  of  the  proprietors  of  the  township  of  Simsbury,  and 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  and  to  each  of  them,  in  such 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  83 

proportion  as  they  have  aheady  agreed  upon,  for  the  divis- 
ion of  the  same,"  all  the  territory,  as  originally  granted  and 
bounded,  containing-  ten  square  miles.  This  instrument  is 
signed,  in  behalf  of  the  Colony,  by  the  Governor,  and  Sec- 
retary, and  was  further  recognized,  and  confirmed,  by  an- 
other act  of  the  General  Court,  in  1703.     [Appendix,  B.] 

The  place  first  used  for  burying-  the  dead,  was  on  the  hill, 
westerly  of  the  present  burying  place  at  Hop  meadow.  In 
1688,  the  town  voted  to  remove  it  lower  down  the  hill — that 
it  be  laid  out  to  the  extent  of  two  acres — and  that  the 
grounds  be  improved,  both  for  a  "training  and  burying 
place."  The  oldest  monuments,  now  found,  are  of  two 
deaths  that  occurred  iu  1688 — Mr.  John  Drake,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  Buell,  wife  of  Mr.  Peter  Buell. 

In  1684,  John  Terry  was  appointed  "Ensign  of  the  Train- 
band," this  being  the  first  military  appointment,  and  the 
highest  of  grade  then  in  the  town.  In  1690,  Mr.  Teiry 
having  deceased,  John  Higley  was  commissioned  as  Lieu- 
tenant, Thomas  Barber  as  Ensign,  and  Joseph  Strickland 
appointed  Clerk  of  the  company.  It  was  not  until  1698, 
that  there  were  soldiers  enough  in  the  town  to  make  up  the 
complement  of  a  full  company, —  at  which  time,  Lieut.  Hig- 
ley was  promoted  to  a  captaincy — an  ofl[ice  of  great  dignity 
in  those  days,  and,  with  a  single  exception,  the  highest  then 
known  in  the  Colony — each  county  having,  as  chief  mili- 
tary officer,  a  Major.  "  The  military  force"  of  the  town 
was  comprised  in  one  company  until  1716,  when  it  was 
divided  into  two  companies,  and  Thomas  Holcomb  ap- 
pointed Captain,  Natiianiel  Holcomb  Lieut.,  and  Joshua 
Holcomb  Ensign  of  the  north  company  ; — and  Richard  Case 
Captain,  John  Pettibone  Lieut.,  and  Josepli  Phelps  Ensign, 
of  the  south  company. 

For  many  years  after  1700,  the  inhabitants  residing  in 
the  north-easterly  part  of  the  town,  were  subjected  to  great 
inconvenience  and  loss,  by  a  claim  set  up  by  Suffield,  that 
they  were  within  the  limits  of  Massachusetts,  and  therefore 
liable  to  pay  taxes  to  that  town,  which  was  then  considered 
.as  belonging   to  that  Colony.     Their  property  was  often 


84 


HISTORY      OF    SIMSBURY. 


seized,  and  carried  info  Snffield,  and  sold  for  payment  of 
taxes  ;  and  other  trespasses  were  committed,  by  their  Suf- 
fieldneig-hbors,  under  the  same  claim,  much  to  their  annoy- 
ance and  injury.  The  legislature  of  this  Colony,  in  1705, 
passed  an  Act  prohibiting  them  from  paying  taxes  to  Snf- 
field, and  to  punish,  by  a  summary  process,  all  persons  who 
should  attempt  to  extend  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts 
over  any  part  of  Simsbury,  or  who  should  commit  trespasses 
imder  color  of  acting  under  the  laws  of  that  Colony.  Many 
prosecutions  grew  out  of  these  transactions.  The  contro- 
versy, which  was  extremely  vexatious  to  our  people,  was 
not  entirely  ended  until  1750,  when,  on  a  re-survey  of  the 
boundary  line  between  the  two  Colonies,  it  was  found,  not 
only,  that  these  Simsbury  people^  but,  that  a//  the  inhabitants 
of  Nuffield,  belonged  to  Connecticut.  In  this  year,  Suffield 
was  annexed  to  this  Colony. 

At. the  May  session  of  the  Assembly,  1723,  a  petition, 
signed  by  ninety-seven  inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  was  pre- 
sented, asking  for  a  township  of  land,  seven  miles  square, 
to  be  laid  out  west  of,  and  adjoining,  Simsbury  west  bounds. 
The  petitioners  urge  their  application  for  the  grant  upon  the 
following  grounds : — 

1.  "  That  we  are  under  a  necessity  for  it,  and  avantage  of  pres- 
ent settlement,  by  reason  of  our  propinquinity  above  any  other. 

2.  But  more  particularly  from  the  consideration  of  our  promo- 
ting copper  works  which  has  brought  about  j£  10,000  into  this, 
from  foreign  plantations,  and  likely  to  create  a  foreign  trade,  and 
all  to  the  advantage  of  this  Colony. 

3.  Also,  for  our  encouragement  in  raising  tar  and  turpentine  for 
the  supply  of  his  Majesty's  naval  stores,  and  our  only  valuable 
commodity  in  foreign  parts. 

4.  And  also  in  consideration  for  our  being  a  frontier  for  above 
this  forty  years ;  whereby  we  were  under  necessity  to  bear  a 
double  part  in  the  expense  and  fatigues  of  war,  being  fastened 
down,*  by  an  act  of  this  Assembly,  on  penalty  of  loosing  our  free- 
holds, which  however  just  it  might  be  for  the  present,  yet  challen- 
ges a  consideration  when  the  Assembly  have  wherewith,  and 
leizure  to  do  it. 

*  This  "  being  fastened  down"  to  their  freeholds,  had  reference  to  a  Reso- 
lution ppssed  by  the  General  Court,  May  1704,  by  which  it  was  ordered, 
that  certain  specified  towns,  among  which  was  included  Simsbury,  and  de- 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  85 

5.  And  to  conclude,  a  part  of  the  western  lands  we  have  the 
native  purchase  of,  and  have  many  years  ago  laid  out  lands  upon  ; 
and  as  it  will  create  a  great  disturbance  amongst  us,  so  it  v/iil  be 
an  intolerable  hardship,  to  have  them  granted  to  any  other" 

The  name  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  'stands  at  the 
head  of  this  petition,  which  was  signed,  it  is  believed,  by 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.  Notwithstanding  the  cogent 
reasons  urged,  the  Assmbly  did  not  see  fit  to  grant  the  prayer 
of  the  petitioners.  During  a  period  of  about  fifty  years 
from  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  among  the  very  large 
number  of  petitions  from  it  to  the  General  Assembly,  this 
appears  to  be  nearly  the  only  one  which  received  the  appro- 
bation, and  contained  the  signatures,  of  all  tlie  legal  inhab- 
itants of  the  place. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  settlement,  the  river  and 
some  of  its  larger  tributary  streams  abounded  with  salmon 
and  shad.  One  of  these  streams,  Salmon  brook,  took  its 
name  from  the  great  number  of  salmon  found  in  it.  So 
highly  important  was  the  fishing  interest  considered,  that 
measures  were  taken  quite  early  to  protect  it.  About  1680, 
the  town  having  granted  permission  to  Ephraim  Howard  to 
build  a  mill  at  the  foot  of  the  falls  on  the  cast  side  of  the 
mountain,  attached  to  the  grant  an  express  condition  that 
the  dam  should  be  so  constructed  as  not  to  obstruct  at  any 
time  the  free  passage  of  fish. 

For  a  long  series  of  years,  while  the  river  remained  free 
from  obstructions,  and  the  territory  near  its  sources  was 
uninhabited,  vast  quantities  of  salmon  and  shad  were  annu- 
ally taken.  So  plenty  were  salmon,  that  the  buyers  of 
shad  were  required  to  take  a  pro  rata  proportion  of  the 
former  in  their  purchases, — though  at  a  higlier  price,  it  is 
presumed,  than  was  asked   for  shad.     The  supply  of  both 

___ 
nominated  "  frontier' towns,"  shotild  "not  be  broken  up  or  voluntarily  de- 
serted," without  permission  from  the  Assembly; — "and  that  no  inhabitant 
thereof,  having  a  freehold  estat-e  within  the  same  at  the  time  of  any  insur- 
rection or  breaking  forth  of  war,"  should  be  allowed  "to  remove  from 
thence,  with  intent  to  sojourn  elsewhere,  without  liberty  as  aforesaid,  on 
pain  of  forfeiting  all  his  estate  in  lands  and  tenements  lying  within  such 
townships." 


86  HISTORY    OF     SIMSBTJRY. 

species  continued  in  great  abundance  until  about  1740,  fur- 
nishing to  the  inhabitants  no  inconsiderable  means  of  sub- 
sistence, and  to  the  fisherman  employment  and  profit. 

The  General  Court  at  various  times  adopted  measures  to 
protect  this  fishery; — at  first  by  prohibiting  the  placing  of 
dams  or  other  obstructions  in  the  river; — and  so  long  as 
these  requirements  were  obeyed,  and  the  river  remained 
unobstructed,  the  fish  continued  plenty.  Subseqently, 
however,  it  was  found  that  the  fishery  was,  in  a  great 
measure,  monopolized  by  the  people  of  Windsor,  who  were 
in  tlie  habit  of  using  such  nets  and  other  apparatus,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  as  to  prevent  the  passage  of  fish  up 
the  stream.  This,  too,  was  attempted  to  be  remedied  by 
other  enactments. 

At  a  later  period,  laws  were  passed  prohibiting  the  pla- 
cing of  wears  or  hedges,  or  stretching  seines  or  nets  across 
the  river,  without  permissioi},  obtained  from  the  County 
Court.  This  permission,  unfortunately  for  the  fishing  in- 
terest, was  too  often  granted.  The  most  beneficial  portions 
of  these  laws,  however,  being  generally  limited  in  their 
duration,  were  sometimes  suffered  to  expire,  and  at  no  time, 
as  it  would  seem,  were  they  so  obeyed  or  enforced,  espe- 
cially near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  as  to  afford  that  free 
passage  for  fish  which  was  intended  by  the  legislature. 

Owing  to  these  causes,  tlie  fishing  interest  became  much 
impaired  after  about  1740,  and  continued  to  decline  yearly 
thereafter ;  though  a  strong  effort  was  made  in  1763  to 
revive  it  by  legislative  interference,  which  was  attended 
with  some  success.  At  a  later  period,  however,  by  the 
increase  of  population  and  business,  an  additional  number 
of  mills  being  required,  or  at  any  rate,  strenuously  de- 
manded, the  legislature  granted  permission  for  the  erection 
of  dams,  at  first,  with  sluice  ways  so  as  to  a'llow  the  passage 
of  fish,  but  subsequently,  without  any  restrictions.  For 
some  years  before  the  commencement  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, the  fishing  business  had  so  far  subsided  as  to  be  of 
little  value.  Few  if  any  shad  have  been  taken  in  the  town 
since  1800  ; — the  salmon  disappeared  much  earlier. 


CHAPTER    VII 


Manufactures.    Ancient  Map.    Bridges.    Ferry.    Services  rendered  in  tlie  Frencli  Wars 
and  in  the  War  of  tlie  Revolution.    Miscellaneous.     1726 — 1845. 

The  manufacture  of  steel  was  commenced  in  this  town  on 
a  small  scale  in  1727,  and  this,  it  is  believed,  was  the  first 
attempt  to  make  it  in  thi.s  country.  In  1728,  Samuel  Hig- 
ley,  who  was  a  son  of  John  Hig"ley,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  town,  presented  a  petition  to  the  General 
Court  stating",  that  "  he  hath,  with  great  pains  and  costs, 
found  out  and  obtained  a  curious  art,  by  which  to  con- 
vert, change  or  transmute  conmion  iron  into  good  steel, 
sufficient  for  any  use,  and  was  the  very  first  that  ever 
performed  such  an  operation  in  America,  having  the  most 
perfect  knowledge  thereof  confirmed  by  many  experi- 
ments;"— also,  that  he  "  has  good  reason  to  hope  that  he 
shall  produce  as  good  or  better  steel  than  what  comes  from 
over  sea,  and  at  considerable  cheaper  rate;" — and  praying 
for  an  exclusive  right  to  manufacture  the  article  for  a  term 
of  years.  His  request  was  granted,  and  he  with  his  asso- 
ciates were  vested  with  the  exclusive  privilege  of  making- 
steel  for  the  term  of  ten  years,  on  condition  that  they, 
during  that  term,  should  prosecute  the  business,  and  bring  it 
to  "  a  good  and  reasonable  perfection,"  within  the  period  of 
two  years.  Proof  was  adduced  that  he  had  made  steel  from 
iron  manufactured  at  Turkey  hills,  which,  by  competent 
artisans,  was  pronounced  to  be  "  good  steel."  To  what 
extent,  or  duration  of  time,  he  prosecuted  this  business,  is 
not  known.  The  probability  however  is  that,  like  most 
operations  of  a  similar  nature,  commenced  at  that  early 
period  without  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  art,  or  ade- 
quate means  to  carry  it  on,  the  project  ended  in  loss  and 
disappointment.  It  is  supposed  that  Mr.  Higley  derived 
what  information  he  possessed  on  this  subject  from  some  of 


88  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

the  foreigners  who  were  employed  at  the  copper  mines  in 
that  vicinity. 

Twelve  years  afterwards,  on  the  application  of  Thomas 
Fitch,  George  Wyllys,  and  Robert  Walker  Jr.  all  gentle- 
men of  high  standing  in  the  state,  a  special  act  was  passed, 
by  the  General  Court,  granting  to  them  and  their  associates, 
"  the  sole  liberty  and  privilege  of  making,  manufacturing, 
and  converting  iion  into  good  steel  within  the  bounds  and 
limits  of  this  Colony,"  for  the  term  of  fifteen  years,  with 
the  proviso  that  they  should  perfect  their  work  within  two 
years,  and  furnish  at  least  half  a  ton  of  steel  during  each 
year  of  said  term  of  fifteen  years.  They  commenced  build- 
ing a  furnace  in  this  town,  but  by  reason  of  the  death  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  who  had  become  asso- 
ciated with  them  in  the  enterprise,  and  on  whom,  as  they 
state,  "they  principally  depended  for  ye  skill  in  preparing 
ye  furnace  and  making  ye  experiment,"  their  design  was 
retarded;  but  upon  their  application,  the  General  Court  in 
1743,  revived  their  grant  for  the  remaining  part  of  the  said 
fifteen  years,  allowing  them  one  year  within  which  to  make 
the  experiment.  Before  the  expiration  of  the  year,  to  wit, 
in  October  1744,  Aaron  Eliott  and  Ichabod  Miller,  who  had 
charge  of  the  works,  certified  to  the  Assembly,  "  that  after 
many  expensive  and  fruitless  trialls  with  which  sundry  of 
the  owners  was  discouraged,  the  afhiir  being  still  pursued  by 
others  of  them,  it  has  so  far  succeeded  that  there  has  been 
made  more  than  half  a  ton  of  steel  at  the  furnace  in  Syms- 
bury  which  was  erected  for  that  purpose  by  the  gentlemen 
to  whom  said  grant  was  made."  Instruments  made  of  this 
steel  were  exhibited  "  as  a  specimen  of  ye  goodness  thereof 
to  answer  ye  intentions  of  German  steel."  Upon  which 
representations,  the  Assembly  resolved  that  the  condition  of 
said  grant  "  is  performed  according  to  the  tenor  and  mean- 
ing thereof."  It  is  understood  that  these  works  were  kept 
up  for  some  years,  though  it  is  not  supposed  that  the  pro- 
duct was  extensive  or  the  business  lucrative.  The  furnace 
was  erected  on  the  brook,a  short  distance  west  of  Tuller's 
mills. 


HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY. 


89 


Pitch  and  tar  were  manufactured  at  Massacoe  as  early  as 
1643.  The  extensive  forests  of  pine,  which  then  spread 
over  a  large  portion  of  the  plantation,  furnished  a  ready- 
supply  of  the  materials  for  the  manufacture  of  these  articles, 
and  for  the  collection  of  turpentine  whicli,  at  a  subsequent 
period,  became  an  extensive  business.  The  manufacture  of 
pitch  and  tar  was  commenced  and  carried  on  at  this  place 
by  John  Griffin  and  Michael  Humphrey,  then  of  Windsor, 
though  subsequently  both  of  them  became  inhabitants  of 
this  town.  At  first,  they  had  a  partner  of  the  name  of  John 
Tinker,  who  afterwards  settled  as  a  merchant  at  New  Lon- 
don. These  articles  being  in  great  demand  for  the  uses  of 
the  British  navy,  as  well  as  for  ship-building  generally,  com- 
manded a  ready  sale  at  high  prices,  and  were  nearly  the 
only  ones  allowed  by  England  to  be  exported. 

This,  especially  the  turpentine  business,  was  pursued 
more  or  less  extensively  in  the  town  during  a  period  of  over 
one  hundred  years.  There  are  indications  of  the  localities 
of  some  of  these  works  plainly  visible  at  the  present  time. 
In  1728,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  shipped  at  one  time  to 
New  York  nearly  five  tons  of  turpentine,  as  appears  by  the 
records  of  a  law  suit  founded  upon  the  shipment. 

During  the  pendency  of  the  meeting-house  question,  a 
Map  of  Simshury  was  made — and,  as  it  would  seem,  not  far 
from  1730 — for  the  purpose  of  showing  to  the  Assembly,  in 
the  investigation  of  this  matter,  the  true  condition  of  the 
town  in  respect  to  roads,  the  localities  of  the  respective 
inhabitants,  &c.  It  is  preserved  in  the  office  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  this  State,  and  is  valuable  as  a  relic  of  antiquity. 
Its  general  appearance  indicates  that  it  was  drawn  with  great 
care  and  accuracy.  In  addition  to  the  usual  matter  contained 
in  maps,  this  one  gives  all  the  roads,  and  every  dwelling 
house  in  town  standing  at  that  time.  The  main  road  lead- 
ing from  Avon,  through  Hop  meadow,  to  Salmon  brook, 
with  all  the  other  roads  easterly  of  this,  are  laid  down  very 
much  as  they  are  used  at  the  present  time.  But,  westerly 
of  this  main  road,  there  is  not,  upon  the  map,  a  single  road 
or  house  designated,  excepting  two  or  three  buildings,  near 


90  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

Tiiller's  mills,  on  Hop  brook, — thus  showing  conclusively 
that  there  were  no  inhabitants  westerly  of  this  road,  until 
after  this  time.  With  the  houses,  the  names  of  a  consider- 
able number  of  their  respective  owners  are  given.  The 
whole  number  of  houses  is  one  hundred  and  sixty-two — 
fifty-eight  within  the  limits  of  Granby,  as  at  present  defined, 
and  one  hundred  and  four  in  Simsbury.  The  tw^o  "  forts" 
before  mentioned  are  laid  down  ; — one  called  the  "  Great 
.Fort,"  situated  on  the  plain,  about  one  mile  north  of  Sax- 
ton's  brook,  and  east  of  the  road  leading  from  Westover's 
plain  to  Salmon  l)rook  ; — the  other,  called  ^'  Shaw's  Fort," 
is,  perhaps,  one  mile  north  of  Salmon  brook  street,  near  the 
road  leading  to  Southwick.  These  fortifications  which, 
probably,  weie  but  block  houses,  protected  by  ditches  and 
palisades,  were  built,  it  is  supposed,  in  1708. 

Previously  to  1734,  there  had  been  no  bridge  constructed 
over  the  Farmington  river,  in  the  town.  Nor  were  there 
any  ferries,  established  by  law,  or  kept  at  the  public  ex- 
pense. There  were  sundry  places,  called  ferry  places, 
where  passages  were  eflfected.  One  was  at  Weatauge,  one 
at  Hop  meadow,  opposite  the  present  meeting-house,  an- 
other easterly  of  Col.  Calvin  Barber's  house,  and  one  at 
Terry's  plain.  At  the  Falls,  the  river  was  forded.  At  the 
other  places  mentioned,  canoes  were  used  for  the  passage  of 
footmen,  and  if  horses  were  required  to  pass,  they  were  got 
over,  in  most  cases,  it  is  believed,  by  swimming.  It  is  not 
known  that  there  were  any  boats  larger  than  canoes  in  use, 
at  this  time,  though  possibly  there  were  some.  They  could 
have  been  but  little  needed,  except  for  agricultural  purposes, 
for  there  were  not,  at  this  time,  any  wagons  or  other  car- 
riages in  use. 

The  first  bridge  erected  over  Farmington  river,  was  a  toll 
bridge,  at  Weatauge,  in  1734.  The  tolls  were  established 
by  law.  A  bridge,  at  this  place,  was  much  needed,  for  here 
was  the  great  thoroughfare  of  travel,  between  the  eastern 
and  western  sections  of  this  part  of  the  country.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  it  was  continued,  as  a  toll  bridge,  onl}^  about  six 
years ; — after  which,  for  a  period  of  about  forty  years,  a 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  91 

bridge  was  supported  at  this  place  by  private  munificence. 
In  17S1,  a  bridge  which  was  nearly  new,  having  been  swept 
away  by  a  freshet,  the  Assembly  granted  a  lottery,  in  aid  of 
building  another.  But,  it  is  understood,  that  the  lottery 
project  was  abandoned,  though  the  tickets  had  been  pre- 
pared, and  some  of  them  disposed  of.  A  bridge,  however, 
was  erected  by  means  of  other  resources ; — and  one  has 
continued  to  be  kept  up  at  this  place,  and,  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  time,  at  the  public  expense. 

About  1750,  a  bridge  was  built  across  the  river,  at  a  place 
not  now  used  for  passing  it,  nearly  east  of  Col.  Barber's 
house,  in  Hop  meadow.  This,  too,  was  erebted  by  indi- 
vidual donations.  It  stood  but  a  few  years,  and  was  the 
only  one  ever  constructed  at  that  place. 

In  1756,  Thomas  Marvin,   then  of  this  town,  obtained  a 
grant  from  the  General  Assembly  to  keep  a  ferry,  at  this 
place,  for  the  term  of  ten  years,  and   v/ith  permission  of 
collecting  tolls.   This  is  the  only  legal  ferry  ever  estabiislied 
in  this  town.     The"rates  of  tolls  allowed,  were, — 
For  man,  horse,  and  load,  one  penny. 
Single  man,  or  single  horse,  one  half  penny. 
Neat  cattle,  per  head,  one  halfpenny. 
Sheep  and  swine,  per  head,  one  farthing. 
In  none  of  the  laws  of  the  Colony,  relating  to  ferries,  are 
wagons  or  pleasure  carriages  mentioned,  as  objects  of  tolls, 
until  1760 — thus  showing  i<;/jen  these  vehicles  first  came  into 
use. 

It  is  not  known  how  long  this  ferry  was  kept  up, — but 
probably  it  was  but  a  short  time,  at  these  prices  of  ferriage. 
The  first  l^ridge  built,  by  the  town,  over  this  river,  was  in 
1777,  or  1778,  and  was  erected  at  Suffrage,  being  the  south- 
erly part  of  the  present  town  of  Canton.  This,  too,  was  on 
the  great  traveled  road,  before  mentioned,  leading  into  the 
county  of  Litchfield. 

Within  a  few  years  thereafter,  a  bridge  was  built  at  Ter- 
ry's plain,  where  one  has  been  supported  ever  since,  at  the 
expense  of  the  town.  About  1788,  one  was  erected  nearly 
a  mile  north-east  of  the  meeting-house,  which  was  swept 


92 


HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY. 


away  by  a  freshet  ia  1801,  and  was  never  rebuilt.  In  1819, 
a  bridge  was  built  by  individual  subscriptions  at  Hop  mead- 
ow, opposite  the  nieeting--liouse.  It  stood  but  a  few"  years, 
when  another  was  erected  at  the  public  charge.  For  many 
years,  there  has  been  a  bridge  at  the  foot  of  the  falls,  in 
Scotland,  supported  equally  by  Simsbury  and  Granby  ;  and 
for  nearly  forty  years,  the  latter  town  has  supported  one  at 
TariflTville,  near  the'  head  of  the  falls.  Another  has  been 
recently  erected  by  individuals  at  the  village  of  Tariffville. 
At  the  present  time,  the  town  of  Simsbury  supports  three 
bridges  crossing  this  river — one  at  Weatauge,  one  at  Hop 
meadow,  and  the  other  at  Terry's  plain. 

One  of  the  most  severe  hail  storms  on  record,  occurred 
in  the  latter  part  of  July,  1768.     It  seems  to  have   been 
more  violent  and  disastious  at  Weatange,  than  any  where 
else.     The  newspapers  of  the  day  represent  the  hail  stones 
to  have  been  of  the  size  of  "  geese  eggs,"  and  the  largest  to 
have  weighed,  after  the  storm  was  over,  three  ounces  each. 
Fruit  trees  and  gardens  suffered  much  damage.     Large  quan- 
tities of  English  grain  were  nearly  destroyed — window  glass 
was  extensively  broken — and  the  smaller  and  weaker  ani- 
mals much  injured.     A  deer,  in  the  park  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Case,  had  one  of  his    legs  broken,  and  was  otherwise  so 
injured    as    to  cause  his   death.     "  Several  hogs  had  their 
backs  broken,   some  of  which   died  some   days  afterwards. 
Some  horses,  and  other  large  animals  were  cut  through  the 
skin  by  the  biggest  and  more  ragged  hail-stones."     Jonathan 
Pettibone   Esq.,   Mr.  Thomas    Case,   and   others  living  in 
that  vicinity,  were  the  greatest  sufferers. 

In  tlie  various  wars  in  which  the  country  has  been  engag- 
ed, the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury  have  performed  their  full 
share  of  service.  We  have  already  alluded  to  their  services 
in  the  early  Indian  wars.  When,  in  1711-12,  forces  were 
sent  into  the  county  of  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  to  oppose 
the  movements  of  hostile  Indians,  who  had  assembled  at 
that  place  in  considerable  force,  a  part  of  a  company,  attach- 
ed to  the  expedition,  was  raised  in  this  town,  of  whicli  Sam- 
uel Humphrey  was  appointed  Lieutenant.     His  commission, 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  93 

signed  by  Gov.  Saltonstall,  is  in  possession  of  one  of  his 
descendants. 

In  the  French  war  of  1756,  a  company  was  raised  in  the 
town  "  for  the  protection  of  Crown  Point,"  and  other  service 
upon  Lake  Champlain,  of  which  corrjpany,  Jonathan  Hum- 
phry was  appointed  first  Lieutenant.  His  commission, 
signed  by  Gov.  Fitch,  has  also  been  preserved  in  the  same 
family.  The  names  of  the  other  officers  of  this  company 
are  not  known. 

A  company  consisting  of  forty-seven  men,  and  command- 
ed by  Captain  Noah  Humphry  was  raised,  chiefly  in  Sims- 
bury,  which  belonged  to  the  corps  sent  out  to  Havana,  in 
1762,  miderthe  command  of  General  Lyman.  This  expe- 
dition was  signalized  by  the  great  loss  of  life,  chiefly  by 
sickness,  which  it  sustained.  It  is  believed  that  less  than 
one  third  of  the  troops  ever  returned  home. 

At  the  disembarkat  0  ',  August  10,  the  Simsbury  company 
consisted  of  forty-seven  men — of  whom  twenty-two  died 
before  leaving  the  Island,  and  some  of  the  others  deceased 
on  their  passage  home.  There  were  fourteen  men  in  this 
company  belonging  to  that  part  of  Simsbury  which  lies 
within  the  present  limits  of  Granby,  all  but  two  of  whom 
lost  their  lives.  These  two  were  AndreAV  Hillyer  and  Dud- 
ley Hays. 

There  has  been  preserved  a  "  Week'y  Relurn"  of  this 
regiment  in  the  hand-writing  of  Elihu  Humphry  Esq., 
who  was  an  officer  in  the  Simsbury  company,  and  as  is 
believed,  was  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  This  return  shows 
a  melancholy  picture  of  the  condition  of  the  forces,  after 
their  arrival  at  Havana,  and  during  their  continuance  on  the 
island,  to  wit,  from  August  10,  to  October  16.  The  expedi- 
tion consisted  of  eleven  companies,  numbering  802  men. 
The  field  officers,  besides  General  Lyman,  were  Colonel 
Putnam  and  Major  Diukee.  On  the  14tli  of  August,  the 
numl)er  of  troops  returned  as  sick,  was  140  ; — the  next  week, 
343; — September  l8ih,  540!  The  number  reported  fit  for 
duty,  October  2d,  was  only  thirty-four !  At  the  last  return, 
Oct.  16,  the  whole  number  reported  fit  for  duty  was  forty, 
9 


94  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

and  in  Captain  Humphry's  company,  but  four.  Up  to  this 
time,  the  number  of  deaths  in  the  whole  regiment  amounted 
to  three  hundred  and  forty-two!  Some  of  the  survivors 
died  on  their  passage  home,  and  others  were  captured  or 
shipwrecked.  The  expedition  was  incomparably  the  most 
disastrous  in  its  results  of  any  ever  fitted  out  by  this  Colony. 
It  was  a  sacrifice  of  human  life  almost  unexampled,  and 
without  the  accomplishment  of  any  valuable  object.  The 
extreme  unhealthfulness  of  the  pi  lee,  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  was  probably  then  unknown  ;  but  at  the  present  day, 
no  one  would  seriously  think  of  sending  troops  from  Con- 
necticut to  occupy  Havana  in  the  month  of  August! 

In  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  inhabitants,  with  but 
few  exceptions,  espoused  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  ren- 
dered essential  aid  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence. 
Before  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  a  town  meeting 
was  held  which,  by  a  large  majority,  passed  resolutions 
strongly  reprobating  the  Boston  Port  Bill  and  other  oppress- 
ive acts  of  the  )nother  country.  The  resolutions  are  spread 
upon  the  records  of  the  town.  They  are  well  drafted,  and 
evince  a  spirit  of  freedom  and  an  invincible  opposition  to 
oppression,  alike  worthy  of  the  times,  and  the  men  who 
were  so  soon  to  embark  their  all  in  the  contest.  Measures 
too  were  taken  to  furnish  relief  to  their  suffering  brethren 
in  Boston  who,  by  their  patriotic  conduct,  had  subjected 
themselves  to  the  especial  vengeance  of  the  British  govern- 
ment. 

In  the  expedition  secretly  fitted  out  and  sent  to  take  fort 
Ticonderoga  in  April  1775,  Capt.  Noah  Phelps  of  this  town 
was  a  chief  projector  and  principal  actor.  When  the  vol- 
unteers composing  this  expedition  had  reached  lake  Cham- 
plain,  Capt.  Phelps  crossed  it  in  a  boat  and  entered  the  fort 
as  a  spy.  Pretending  that  his  object  was  to  get  shaved,  he 
avoided  suspicion,  and  "had  an  opportunity  to  ascertain  the 
construction,  strength,  and  force  of  the  garrison.  And  he 
had  the  good  fortune  to  elude  detection,  though  as  it  after- 
wards appeared,  his  presence  had  began  to  excite  mistrust 
before  he  left  the  garrison.     The  boatman  who  conducted 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  95 

him  from  the  fort,  suspecting  his  character,  was  deterred 
from  returning'  back  by  the  superior  strength  of  his  passen- 
ger. Upon  report  of  Capt.  Phelps  to  his  comrades  concern- 
ing the  condition  of  the  fort,  the  company  passed  over  the 
following  night,  and  succeeded  in  the  capture  of  this  impor- 
tant garrison  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man. 

In  addition  to  the  valuable  ordnance  and  military  stores 
which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans  by  this  exploit, 
there  were  taken  Gov.  Skeene  with  his  suit,  the  officers  of 
the  garrison,  and  foity-seven  privates,  all  of  whom  were 
sent  to  Haitford  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  American  force 
amounted  to  eighty-three  persons,  many  of  whom  were 
volunteers  from  Vermont. 

As  this  enterprise  was  undertaken  before  the  declaration 
of  Independence,  the  state,  as  such,  did  not  openly  favor  the 
design.  But  the  funds  to  re-imburse  its  expenses  were  fur- 
nished from  the  treasury  on  notes  executed  by  a  few  indi- 
viduals, which  notes  were  subsequently  cancelled  and 
given  up. 

Early  in  May  1775,  a  company  under  the  command  of 
captain  Abel  Pettibone,  was  raised  in  the  town  and  sent  to 
the  camp  near  Boston.  This  company  consisted  of  over 
one  hundred  men,  and  continued  in  service  until  the  l8th 
of  December  following.  Volunteers  from  this  company 
were  engaged  in  the  battle  at  Bunker  Hill. 

Immediately  after  this  battle,  another  company  was  raised 
by  enlistment,  and  composed  principally  of  men  belonging 
to  Simsbury.  The  officers  were,  Elihu  Humphry  Captain, 
Ebenezer  F.  Bissell  and  Andrew  Hillyer  Lieutenants,  Sam- 
uel Stoughton  Ensign,  and  Jonathan  Humphry  Jr.  Cleik. 
The  company  consisted  of  seventy-five  men,  rank  and  file. 
On  the  day  of  their  march  for  the  camp,  they  were  assem- 
bled in  the  meeting-house,  where  a  sermon,  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  times,  was  preached  to  them  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Pitkin  of  Farmington.  They  were  retained  in  service 
near  Boston  until  the  following  December.  The  original 
muster  roll  of  this  company  has  been  preserved. 

The  commander  of  this  company  was  subsequently  raised 


96  HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY. 

to  the  grade  of  Major  in  tlie  Continental  line,  but  died  soon 
afterwards,  near  the  close  of  1776,  in  service.  He  was  a 
brave  and  efficient  officer,  and  had  served,  as  before  stated, 
in  the  expedition  to  Havana. 

Other  troops  were  raised  in  1776.  From  a  return  of  the 
18th  regiment  of  militia,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Jonathan  Humphry,  dated  in  July  1777,  it  appears  that 
two  hundred  and  sixty-four  men,  belonging  to  this  regiment, 
were  then  in  service  in  the  Continental  army.  There  w^ere 
twenty-one  companies  belonging  to  the  regiment,  with  an 
aggregate  force  of  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty-nine 
men,  more  than  three  quarters  of  whom  belonged  to  Sims- 
bury.  In  1778,  the  whole  of  this  regiment  was  called  into 
service  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York.  During  this  expedi- 
tion. Colonel  Humphry  died  at  Horse-neck.  He  was 
much  engaged  for  a  long  series  of  years  in  public  employ- 
ments, and  eminently  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 

Subsequently,  the  whole  regiment,  or  a  portion  of  it,  was 
occasionally  detached,  though  generally  for  short  periods 
of  service.  Nearly  every  man  belonging  to  it  had  served 
in  the  war.  Of  enlisted  men  for  the  army,  few,  if  any  of 
the  towns  furnished  a  larger  number.  A  company  under 
the  command  of  Captain,  afterwards  General,  Noah  Phelps, 
was  raised  in  this  manner  for  the  service.  His  brother.  Cap- 
tain Elisha  Phelps,  was  a  Commissary  in  the  army  until  his 
decease  in  1776.  Besides  those  already  mentioned,  a  large 
number  of  persons  belonging  to  the  town  lost  their  lives 
while  employed  in  the  public  service. 

The  extraordinary  dark  day  of  1780,  is  still  remembered 
and  often  adverted  to  by  aged  people.  It  occurred,  it  will 
be  remembered,  during  the  revolutionary  war,  and  at  the 
most  gloomy  period  of  that  struggle.  The  event  was 
very  generally  considered  as  svpernatvral.  It  caused 
much  alarm  among  the  people,  and  was  to  some  consid- 
erable extent  believed  to  prognosticate  some  great  national 
calamity. 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  97 

The  following-  description  of  the  darkness,  which  occurred 
on  this  day,  is  from  a  diary  kept  by  John  Owen  Esq.  .Under 
date  of  Friday,  May  19,  1780,  he  says  : — 

The  darkness  "  began  in  the  morning  with  a  thick  air,  and 
between  8  and  9, 1  obser^'ed  an  uncommon  yellowish  green  spread 
over  every  object  above  and  below,  which  continued  increasing 
and  withall  growing  darker  and  darker — so  that  about  30  minutes 
past  10  A.  M.,  I  laid  by  my  business  of  writing  in  the  light  room 
where  I  now  am — every  thing  seemed  to  turn  of  a  red  yellow  dark 
green.  I  walked  abroad,  every  thing  appeared  gloomy.  The 
fowls  retired  to  roost,  and  evening  birds  to  their  songs.  This  con- 
tinued until  near  noon,  when  the  air  in  some  measure  cleared  up, 
and  the  sun  appeared." 

"  As  this  darkness  was  a  new  phenomenon,  everyone  will  speak 
of  it  as  they  like.  But  I  will  set  it  down  as  my  own  opinion  that 
it  is  a  prelude  of  something  extraordinary  to  happen  to  this  coun- 
tryv  It  is  indeed  a  lively  picture  and  emblem  of  the  mental  dark- 
ness now  abounding." 

He  adds,  that  he  has  "  heard  for  about  one  hundred  miles  each 
way,  and  the  appearance  was  much  the  same  as  here." 

There  was  nothing  in  this  event  of  a  nature  so  extraordi- 
nary as  to  justify  the  appellation  of  "  supernatural,"  which 
Judge  Ov\^en  and  others  gave  to  it,  nor  in  reality  to  cause  the 
alarm  which,  it  is  said,  so  generally  prevailed.  The  dark- 
ness is  easily  accounted  for.  It  was  undoubtedly  produced 
hy  the  accumulation  of  thicker  and  denser  masses  of  vapor 
or  smoke  than  was  usual,  in  ordinary  cloudy  weather. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  last  war  in  1812, 
Messrs.  Allyn  and  Phelps  erected  works  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  iron  wire,  at  the  place  now  occupied  by  the  carpet 
manufactory  at  Tariffville.  The  iron  used  was  obtained 
from  Salisbury,  which  after  being  rolled  into  rods  of  about 
three  fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter  at  Winsted,  was  carried 
to  the  factory  and  drawn  into  wire  of  all  sizes.  Large 
quantities  were  manufactured,  especially  of  the  finer  kind 
used  by  card  makers,  which  found  a  ready  iuarket  in  Wor- 
cester county,  Massachusetts,  and  other  places  where  cards, 
and  especially  machine  cards,  were  manufactured.  After 
the  peace  in  1815,  coarse  wire  could  not  be  made  at  a  profit, 
and  its  manufacture  was  discontinued  ;    but  card  wire  was 

continued  to  be  made  some   years  afterwards,  not  only  at 
9* 


98  HISTORY     OF     SIMSBURY. 

these  works,  biU  by  Cowles  and  Mills,  on  the  same  river, 
fuithei-  down  the  stream,  and  also  by  a  Mr.  Prouty,  in  con- 
nexion with  E.  Phelps  Esq.  on  the  north  branch  of  Hop 
brook.  The  wire-drawmg  business  is  still  continued  at  this 
place  by  Mr.  Zebulon  Cbapin. 

Each  of  these  establishments  had  connected  with  it  a 
card  factory.  That  of  All3-n  and  Phelps,  carried  on  under 
the  name  of  Allyn,  Johnson  and  Co.  commenced  the  busi- 
ness during  the  war.  At  first,  hand  cards  only  were  made, 
but  afterwards  machine  cards,  which  at  this  time  became  in 
great  demand.  These  works  were  afterwards  removed  to 
Hartford,  and  some  of  the  others  were  discontinued.  The 
business  was  at  times  profitable,  and  was  pursued  exten- 
sively. But  after  the  introduction  of  machinery  for  setting 
card  teeth,  these  establishments,  not  having  the  benefit  of 
this  machinery,  were  compelled  to  abandon  the  business. 
Near  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Thomas  Case  was  also  enga- 
ged for  a  short  time  in  the  manufacture  of  hand  cards. 

Tin  ware  has  been  manufactured  in  this  town  about  fifty 
years.  Joel  Saxton,  Samuel  Vining,  Thomas  Barber  and 
others,  have  been  engaged  in  the  business.  It  is  now  carried 
on,  as  it  has  been  some  years,  by  Moses  Ensign  Esq. 

Richard  Bacon  Esq.  in  connection  with  partners  residing 
in  England,  have  works  at  East  Weatauge,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  Safety  Fuse  for  blasting  rocks.  There  is  no  other 
establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  United  States,  and  but  one 
other  in  the  world.  This  one  is  in  England.  The  process 
of  manufacturing  the  article  is  patented,  and  the  company 
in  Simsbury  is  called  '*  Tiie  Patent  Piise  Compan}'." 

The  factory  of  the  TariffviUe  Manufacturing  Company 
is  situated  at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  town,  on  the  Far- 
mington  river.  The  village,  which  is  called  TariffviUe,  lies 
about  twelve  miles  from  Hartford,  and  contains  about  one 
thousand  inhabitants.  A  part  of  the  factory  buildings  were 
erected,  nearly  twenty  years  since,  by  a  compan}^  called  the 
"New  England  Carpet  Company."  Within  a  few  years, 
the  property  has  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  new  company, 
called  the  "  TariflVille  Manufacturing  Company,"  who  have 


HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY.  99 

extended  the  works  and  constructed  many  additional  build- 
ings. The  water  used  is  taken  from  the  river  and  conducted 
to  the  mills  by  a  canal  of  about  sixty  rods  in  length.  Until 
recently,  the  business  of  the  company  has  been  confined  to 
the  manufacture  of  carpets,  but  another  large  mill  having 
recently  been  erected,  coarse  woolen  cloths  are  now  also 
manufactured  at  this  place. 

The  carpet  factory  is  on  an  extended  scale,  being  one  of 
the  largest  in  this  country.  It  employs  about  three  hundred 
hands,  and  makes  yearly  about  three  hundred  thousand 
yards  of  carpetings,  called  fine,  superfine,  three  ply  and 
Venetian,  which  bear  a  high  reputation,  and  are  fully  equal 
to  imported  fabrics  of  similar  kinds.  Great  improvements 
Jjiave  been  made  recently  in  the  manufacture  of  this  article, 
especially  in  colors,  workmanship,  and  finish.  Hearth  rugs 
are  also  made  at  this  mill,  and  the  company  expect  very 
shortly  to  commence  manufacturing  Brussel  carpets. 

The  new  mill  employs  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  hands, 
and  makes  at  the  rate  of  about  six  hundred  thousand  yards 
yearly  of  woolen  cloths  of  a  coarse  quality,  Tweeds,  Jeans, 
&c.  These  factories  make  this  one  of  the  most  important 
manufacturing  villages  in  the  state. 

By  the  original  grant,  the  dimensions  of  the  town  were 
ten  miles  square.  When  the  line  between  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  was  surveyed  and  established  in  1750,  it  was 
found  that  a  strip  of  land,  over  three  miles  in  width,  remained 
lying  between  the  north  boundary  of  Simsbury  and  the 
state  line.  This  was  annexed  to  Simsbury  by  act  of  the 
legislature,  by  which  the  length  of  the  town  north  and  south 
Avas  increased  so  as  to  extend  over  thirteen  miles ; — the 
west  line  being  about  fourteen  miles.* 


*  In  1728,  on  report  of  a  committee  to  ascertain  and  lay  out  the  west  line 
of  Simsbury,  which  report  was  accepted  by  the  Assembly,  the  south  line, 
beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town,  was  found  to  run,  west  twenty 
minutes  south  ; — the  east  line,  from  the  same  point,  to  run  north  twenty-three 
degrees  east,  ten  miles  and  eight  rods ;  thence  west  twenty-four  degrees 
north,  eight  miles  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  rods  :  and  the  west  line 


100  HISTORY    OF     SIMSBURY. 

The  town  was  divided  into  two  nearly  equal  parts  when 
Granby  was  incorporated  in  1786 — the  latter  town  taking 
the  north  division.  Canton  was  set  off  from  the  west  side 
of  Simsbury  in  1806  ;  and  in  1843,  the  eastern  part,  from  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  was  annexed  to  Bloomfield.  The 
present  dimensions  of  the  town  are  about  four  by  seven 
miles.  Thus  has  ihis  ancient  town  been  curtailed  on  three 
sides,  and  reduced  from  one  of  the  largest,  to  one  of  the 
smallest  towns  in  the  state. 

It  is  believed  that  in  1670,  when  the  town  was  incorpora- 
ted, there  were  not  over  forty  families  residing  within  its 
limits  ;  and  in  1680,  not  exceeding  forty-five.  In  1689, 
when  the  inhabitants  were  first  subjected  to  a  Colony  tax, 
the  list  shows  seventy  taxable  persons,  that  is,  male  persone 
between  sixteen  and  seventy  years  of  age,  and  je3606  of 
estates.  From  this  time,  rmlil  1709,  twenty  years,  the  tax- 
able persons  had  incieased  but  fifteen,  and  the  amount  of 
estates  but  ^487, — both  having  varied  considerably  in  the 
interim.  Allowing  a  population  of  five  for  each  taxable 
person  (which  allowance  would  be  considered  high,)  and 
the  number  of  inhabitants  in  1709  would  be  four  hundred 
and  twenty-five.  From  this  it  would  appear  that,  during 
these  thirty-nine  years,  from  1670,  the  progress  of  popula- 
tion had  been  slow, — especially  in  comparison  with  the 
usual  rate  of  increase  in  new  towns  at  the  present  time. 
Some  additional  light  may  be  obtained  on  this  subject  by 
adverting  to  the  tax  lists  diuing  a  portion  of  this  period.  'In 
1694,  the  number  of  persons  against  whom  town  taxes  were 
laid,  was  sixty-three  ;  including  at  least  tiiree  persons  who 
were  non-residents.  The  number  taxed  for  the  support  of 
the  ministry  in  1696  was  sixty-eight, — and  in  1701,  seventy. 
[Appendix,  C.  and  D.] 

to  run  parallel  with  the  said  east  line  ; — making  "  the  just  contents  of  ten 
miles  square." 

Many  law  suits  grew  out  ol'  this  survey,  and  the  question  relating  to  the 
western  line  of  the  town  was  not  permanently  settled  until  within  forty 
years  past.  This  line  having  been  surveyed  by  a  Mr.  Kimberly,  was  called 
"  Kimberly's  line." 


HISTORY    OP    SIMSBURY.  101 

The  whole  number  of  houses  in  1730,  according-  to  the 
map  of  the  town  before  mentioned,  was  one  hundred  and 
sixty-two.  If  we  estimate  the  number  of  occupants  of  each 
house  at  six  persons,  the  whole  number  of  inhabitants  at 
that  time  would  amount  to  nine  hundred  and  seventy-two. 
Soon  after  this,  lands  in  the  western  part  of  the  town  began 
to  be  taken  up,  and  the  population  thereafter  increased 
more  rapidly. 

The  first  census  of  the  Colony  was  taken  in  1756,  in  pur- 
suance of  orders  sent  from  England,  when  the  population 
of  Simsbury  was  ascertained  to  be,  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-five  persons.  Since  that  time,  there  have 
been  made,  by  the  public  authorities,  eight  enumerations 
of  the  inhabitants,  which  show  the  following-  results. 

Years,  . '.  .    1774.      1782.      1790.      1800.      1810.      1820.      1830.      1S40. 
Population,    3,700.     4,664.     2,576.     2,956.     1,966.     1,954.     2,221.     1,895 

It  will  be  recollected  that  Granby  was  set  off  in  1786,  and 
Canton  in  1806. 

In  1782,  there  were  but  nine  towns  in  the  state  which  by 
the  census  show  a  greater  population  than  Simsbury.  Hart- 
ford, which  then  included  East  Hartford  and  Manchester, 
contained  but  5,495  persons.     Middletown,  4,512. 

A  Post  office  was  established  in  this  town  in  1798.  Its 
location  at  first  was  at  Suffrage,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
present  town  of  Canton.  In  1802  it  was  removed  to  Wea- 
tauge,  and  in  1806,  to  Hop  meadow.  There  is  another  one 
at  Tariffville,  which  has  been  established  nearly  twenty 
years. 

The  town  contains  eleven  Common  School  Districts. 
Schools  of  a  higher  order  are  kept  occasionally,  though  not 
permanently. 

Simsbury  is  situated  about  twelve  miles  north-west  from 
Hartford.  In  fertility  of  soil,  especially  of  its  meadow  lands, 
and  in  beauty  of  scenery,  as  viewed  from  the  mountain,  it 
is  surpassed  but  by  few  towns  in  the  state.  The  New  Haven 
and  Northampton  canal  passes  through  the  center  of  the 
town. 

The  oldest  person  now  living  in  town  is  Mrs.  Ensign, 


102  HISTORY    OF    SIMSBURY. 

aged  ninety-four  years,  relict  of  the  late  Mr,  Isaac  Ensign. 
The  next  oldest  is  Mr.  Timothy  Terry,  who  is  ninety  years 
old. 

There  are  but  few  towns  in  the  state — perhaps  none  of 
equal,  population — in  which  a  greater  number  of  men  hold- 
ing prominent  stations  in  society  have  been  born.  So  stri- 
king has  been  this  fact,  that  it  has  attracted  the  attention  of 
several  gentlemen  of  the  town,  who  have  deemed  the  matter 
of  suificient  importance  to  furnish  for  publication  a  list 
of  prominent  offices  held  by  persons  born  in  the  place. 
[Appendix,  E.] 

For  lists  of  Judges  of  Probate,  Representatives,  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  and  Town  Clerks,  see  Appendix,  F.  G.  H. 
and  I. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

GRANBY. 
Settlement.    Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  History.    1681 — 1845. 

Granby  was  set  off  from  the  north  part  of  Simsbury,  and 
incorporated  in  1786.  Its  extent  is  about  six  by  nine  and  a 
half  miles.  The  soil  is  of  various  kinds.  The  best  lands 
lie  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  town  and  in  the  valley  of 
Salmon  brook.  In  general,  the  lands  are  adapted  to  the 
purposes  of  agriculture,  in  which  business  the  inhabitants 
are  chiefly  engaged.  The  New  Haven  and  Northampton 
Canal,  which  passes  through  the  center  of  the  town,  facil- 
itates the  transportation  of  such  products  as  are  destined  to 
a  market. 

The  settlement  of  the  territory  included  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Granby  was,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two 
families,  commenced  at  a  later  period  than  that  of  Simsbury. 
It  is  supposed  that  John  Griffin  lived  at  the  Falls,  and  was 
settled  there  as  early  as  1664.  One  or  two  other  persons 
had  lands  near  the  same  place,  and  might  have  been  in  the 
occupancy  of  them  at  about  the  same  time.  These  persons 
had  their  grants  from  the  General  Court. 

The  first  grants  of  lands  lying  within  the  tow^n  made  by 
the  original  town,  Simsbury,  Avere  made  in  1679,  to  thirteen 
persons.  The  lands  thus  granted  lay  at  Salmon  brook. 
Owing  to  the  Indian  difficulties,  these  proprietors,  as  stated 
in  the  History  of  Simsbury,  were  ordered  to  build  their  dwell- 
ing houses  at  Westover's  plain.  It  does  not  appear  from 
the  records  who  these  grantees  were. 

Two  years  afterwards,  this  policy  seems  to  have  been 
changed,  and  an  effi)rt  was  made  to  commence  a  settlement 
at  this  place,  with  the  view,  probably,  of  giving  greater  secu- 


104  HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 

rity  to  the  inhabitants  residing-  some  miles  farther  south. 
The  town  voted  in  January  1680-1,  to  divide  a  tract  of  land 
lying-  in  the  vicinity  of  Salmon  brook,  (reserving-  two  lots, 
one  for  the  minister,  and  the  other  for  Michael  Humphry) 
to  Nathaniel  Holcomb,  Andrew  Moore,  Daniel  Adams, 
Josiah  Owen,  Samuel  Wilson,  Josiah  Ellsworth,  and  Nathan 
Gillett,  upon  condition  that  each  grantee  should  take  pos- 
session of  his  lot,  and  continue  to  reside  upon  it  for  the  term 
of  seven  years,  and  make  improvements  by  building  fences, 
and  preparing  the  land  for  cultivation.  Some  of  the  grant- 
ees refused  to  accept  these  conditions,  and  their  rights  were 
subsequently  granted  to  other  persons.  At  least  three  of 
them  belonged  to  Windsor,  and  were  never  inhabitants  of 
this  town.  Of  this  number  was  Mr.  Ellsworth,  who  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  Hon.  Oliver  Ellsworth.  The  other  grantees, 
it  is  believed,  took  possession  of  their  lots,  but  none  of  them, 
it  is  supposed,  continued  to  occupy  them  during  the  required 
term  of  seven  years.  They  were  so  much  exposed  to  Indian 
depredations,  and  so  far  removed  from  any  white  settlement, 
as  to  render  it  very  improbable  that  they  would  have 
remained  there  during  this  term,  under  such  circumstances 
and  at  this  critical  period. 

It  is  known  that  a  block  house  was  erected  in  Salmon 
brook  at  a  very  early  period  of  the  settlement,  to  which  the 
first  inhabitants  resorted  every  night  for  safety,  and  at  all 
other  times  when,  by  the  usual  signal,  an  alarm  was  spread 
that  there  were  strange  Indians  in  the  neighborhood.  These 
akirms  were  so  often  given,  that  the  inhabitants  lived  in 
almost  constant  dread  of  danger.  It  is  understood  that  the 
small  settlement  here  was  often  deserted  and  abandoned  for 
this  cause.  This  accounts  for  the  slow  progress  of  popula- 
tion at  this  place  for-  nearly  twenty  years  after  the  first 
atteiTipt  was  made  to  settle  it.  The  block  house  had  a 
stockade  and  other  defenses,  and  stood  near  the  present 
dwelling  house  of  Mr.  Charles  Pettibone. 

In  May  1688,  a  tier  of  lots  lying  in  the  eastern  section  of 
the  town,  Turkey  hills,  were  conditionally  granted  by  the 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 


105 


town  to  sundry  persons.*  Amongst  the  grantees,  was  the 
Rev.  Edward  Thompson,  who  never  occupied  his  lot,  but 
some  of  his  descendants  live  upon  it  at  the  present  time. 
These  lots  varied  from  thirty  to  fifty  rods  in  width,  and 
extended  from  the  east  bounds  of  the  town  westwardly  to 
the  mountain.  But  in  February,  1693,  these  grants  were 
all  annulled  by  a  vote  of  the  town,  by  reason  of  a  non  per- 
formance of  the  condition  to  which  they  were  subjected.  At 
the  same  time,  or  shortly  afterwards,  the  same  lands  were 
divided  and  allotted  to  several  proprietors,  including  nearly 
all  the  former  ones; — but  it  does  not  appear  that  any  of 
them  occupied  or  improved  their  premises  until  some  years 
afterwards.  Indeed  it  is  believed  that  the  settlement  of  this 
part  of  the  town  did  not  commence  until  about  1700. 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  grants  made,  there  were 
but  a  few  families  settled  within  the  present  limits  of  Granby 
prior  to  1709; — and  subsequently,  until  about  1720,  the 
progress  in  population  was  at  a  slow  pace.  It  appears  from 
a  petition  presented  to  the  General  Court  in  1728,  that, 
within  these  limits,  there  were  in  1709  but  eleven  families — 
nine  on  the  west,  and  two  on  the  east  side  of  Salmon  brook  ; 
and  that  in  1728,  the  number  of  families  on  the  west  side 
of  the  brook  had  increased  to  twenty-seven, — on  the  east 


*  "  Lots  drawn  at  Northeast 

corner  of  S 

imsbury  bounds,  May 

1688." 

NO.  ( 

3F  LOT. 

NO.  OF  LOT. 

Mr.  Edward  Thompson, 

19 

Mr. 

Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

12 

John  Higley, 

16 

John  Case  Jun. 

20 

Andrew  Hillyer, 

5 

John  Pettibone  Sen. 

9 

Joshua  Holcomb, 

13 

John  Case  Sen. 

10 

Daniel  Adams, 

22 " 

Arthur  Henbury, 

6 

Peter  Buell, 

2 

Thomas  Barber, 

4 

Joseph  Owen, 

18 

John  Williams, 

3 

William  Smith, 

15 

Serg't  Wilcoxson, 

17 

Luke  Hill, 

11 

John  Saxton, 

23 

Nicholas  Gozard, 

8 

John  Drake, 

21 

Lieut.  Terry, 

7 

Humphry  Prior, 

1 

Ephraim  Howard, 

14 

The  lots  number  from  north  to  south. 

10 


106 


HISTORY     OF     GRANBY. 


side  of  the  brook  and  west  of  the  mountain  to  eleven, — and 
on  the  east  side  of  the  mountain  the  number  was  twenty- 
four  ; — in  the  whole,  sixty-two  families,  exclusive  of  the 
small  settlement  at  the  Falls. 

About  the  year  1710,  iron  was  manufactured  from  bog  ore 
found  in  Turkey  hills  and  its  vicinity.  Before  1728,  a  fur- 
nace called  the  "  New  Works"  w^as  erected  on  the  east  street 
in  that  village,  nearly  a  mile  north  of  the  road  leading  from 
the  west  street  to  Poquonock.  The  establishment  was  kept 
in  operation  many  years,  and  furnished  the  principal  supply 
of  iron  for  that  section  of  country.  The  woiks,  it  is  pre- 
sumed, did  not  prove  profitable,  for  they  were  abandoned 
many  j'^ears  ago,  though  the  ore  had  not  become  exhausted. 
It  is  found  in  that  locality  at  the  present  time. 

In  1723  an  unusual  number  of  town  grants  were  made, 
by,  which  large  portions  of  the  best  lands  were  taken  up 
and  occupied  by  the  respective  proprietors.  About  this 
time  too,  all  apprehensions  of  danger  from  attacks  by  the 
Indians  had  subsided,  and  the  population  increased  so  rap- 
idly from  this  period,  as  to  authorise,  in  1736,  the  formation 
of  two  Ecclesiastical  Societies.  The  tax  lists  of  1761  show 
a  large  addition  to  the  number  of  inhabitants.  At  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  in  1775,  nearly  all  parts  of  the  town  had 
become  settled,  furnishing  a  population  nearly  as  dense  as 
many  of  the  older  settlements. 

The  General  Assembly  in  1736,  established  two  Ecclesi- 
astical Societies,  the  southern  lines  of  which  coriespond  with 
the  southern  town  line  as  subsequently  designated  when  the 
town  was  incorporated.  They  were  then  called  the  North 
West  and  North  East  Societies. 

Before  the  organization  of  these  societies,  the  inhabitants 
had,  for  some  time,  been  in  the  practice  of  holding  meetings 
for  public  worship  both  at  Salmon  brook  and  Turkey  hills. 
Those  belonging  to  the  former  place,  assembled  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Daniel  Hays,  who  resided  in  the  southern  part  of 
Salmon  brook  village.  He  was  allowed  thirty  shillings  a 
year  for  the  use  of  his  house. 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  107 

From  the  records  of  the  North  West,  or  Salmon  brook 
Society,  it  appears,  that  their  first  meeting-  was  held  in  May 
1739'.  It  was  convened  to  adopt  measures  in  reference  to 
the  construction  of  a  meeting--house.  But,  as  the  meeting 
could  not  agree  whej'e  to  set  the  house,  application  was 
made  to  the  General  Assembly  for  a  committee  to  settle  the 
question.  On  report  of  the  committee,  the  site  established 
was  on  the  hill  north  of  Salmon  brook  village.  The  first 
meeting-house  was  erected  at  this  place  in  1740.  It^dimen- 
sions  were,  thirty  by  forty-five  feet. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  by  the  extension  of  popula- 
tion westwardly,  the  house  was  left  so  far  from  the  centre 
of  population  as  to  cause  complaint,  and  induce  a  majority 
of  the  society  to  adopt  measures  for  its  removal.  Their 
efforts  were  successful.  In  1775  the  house  was  taken  down 
and  removed  about  two  miles  in  a  north-westvvardly  direc- 
tion, to  a  place  designated  by  a  conmiittee  appointed  by  the 
County  Court,  where  it  was  re-built.  In  1793  the  house 
was  enlarged  and  painted  inside.  This  house  was  taken 
down,  and  a  new  one  erected  in  1834.  The  new  house 
stands  a  few  rods  northerly  from  the  site  of  the  old  one. 
It  is  a  commodious  building,  sixty  by  forty  feet,  is  painted 
and  has  a  tower  and  bell. 

The  first  clergyman  settled  over  the  parish  was  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Strong,  who  was  ordained  in  1752.  He  was  allowed 
a  salary  of  fifty  pounds,  fire  wood,  and  the  use  of  a  dwelling 
house.  The  house  built  for  him  by  the  society  is  still  stand- 
ing in  the  village  of  Salmon  brook,  and  is  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Peter  J.  Jewitt.  Mr.  Strong  was  dismissed  in  1779. 
He  removed  to  Williamsburgh,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  settled,  and  at  which  place  he  continued  in  the  ministry 
until  his  death.  The  Rev.  Israel  Harley  was  settled  October 
20,  1784,  and  dismissed  in  1793.  Rev.  Isaac  Porter  was 
ordained  June  25, 1794.  He  continued  in  the  pastoral  ofiice 
until  December  26,  1832 — over  thirty-eight  years — when 
he  was  dismissed.  Rev.  Charles  Bently  was  installed  in 
August  1833,  and  dismissed  in  March  1839.  In  October  of 
the  same  jear^  the  Rev.  Chauncey  D.  Rice  was  installed, 


108 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 


and  in  July  1841,  dismissed.  The  present  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Israel  P.  Warren,  was  ordained  April  20,  1842. 

Soon  after  the  town  was  divided  into  several  ecclesias- 
tical societies,  the  people  of  Turkey  hills  took  measures  to 
organize  their  society.  Their  first  meeting  was  held,  June 
16,  1737,  when  it  was  voted  to  apply  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  send  out  a  committee  to  designate  the  place  where  to 
set  their  meeting-house.  In  the  same  year,  it  was  voted  to 
build  a  house  tliirty-five  by  forty  feet,  with  twenty  feet  posts. 
The  building  was  commenced  the  next  year,  and  was  placed 
in  the  street  a  few  rods  southerly  of  the  dwelling  house  of 
Appleton  Robbins  Esq.  In  1794  a  large  tax  was  raised  to 
repair  the  house,  and  annex  to  it  a  steeple.  It  was  taken 
down  in  1830,  having  stood  ninety-two  years. 

The  first  clergyman  employed,  was  a  Mr.  Wolcott,  who 
preached  in  this  society  in  1737: — it  is  unknown  how  long 
he  continued  to  officiate. 

In  1741,  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Mills  was  settled  with  a 
salary  of  ^6150,  and  ^£500  settlement,  "old  tenor"  money. 
He  was  dismissed  in  1754. 

From  1754  to  1760,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Holmes,  Colton,  and  Root,  each  of  whom  preached 
as  a  candidate  for  settlement. 

The  Rev.  Nehemiah  Strong,  who,  several  years  after- 
wards became  a  Professor  in  Yale  College,  was  settled  as 
pastor  January  21,  1760,  and  was  dismissed  in  1768.  In 
1765,  the  society  voted  (o  offer  him,  in  lieu  of  his  ordinary 
settlement,  seventy  pounds,  one  half  to  be  paid  in  provis- 
ions as  follows  ; — wheat  at  four,  rye  three^  and  Indian  corn, 
tiro  shillings  per  bushel, — pork  at  three  pence,  and  beef  at 
twopence  per  pound. 

In  1771,  the  Rev.  James  Treadway  was  employed  to 
preach  six  months,  at  twenty  shillings  a  sabbath.  During 
the  next  year,  a  Mr.  Mather,  and  afterwards  Mr.  Abel  For- 
ward, officiated  ;  and  in  1774,  and  1775,  the  Rev.  Emmer- 
son  Foster  preached  about  two  years  on  probation. 

Rev.  Aaron  J.  Booge  was  settled  Nov.  27,  1776.  The 
society  voted  to  appoint  seventeen  tavernkeepers  for  the  day 


HISTORY     OF     GRANBY.  109 

of  ordination.*  Mr.  Booge  was  dismissed,  Dec.  8,  1785, 
but  supplied  the  pulpit  about  four  years  afterwards.  At 
the  time  of  his  ordination,  there  were  fourteen  males, 
and  twenty-three  females,  in  full  communion  as  church 
members.! 

In  1791,  and  1792,  Rev.  Mr.  Churchill  preached,  and 
received  a  call  to  settle,  which  was  declined. 

The  Rev.  Whitfield  Cowlcs  was  ordained  June  18,  1794, 
with  a  salary  of  eighty-six  pounds,  with  interest,  if  not  paid 
punctually.  For  some  years  before  the  termination  of  his 
ministry,  he  became  unpopular  with  a  large  portion  of  his 
congregation,  though  a  majority  adhered  to  him.  His  con- 
nexion with  the  society  was  terminated  in  the  fall  of  1808, 
by  the  sentence  of  an  ecclesiastical  tribunal,  which  also  dis- 
missed him  from  the  ministry.  The  society  soon  afterwards 
became  disorganized,  and  ceased  to  be  a  legal  corporation. 
In  1812,  on  application  to  the  General  Assembly,  authority 
was  grant(>d  to  revive  its  powers  by  a  re-organization. 

After  this  period,  and  before  1815,  the  Rev.  John  Taylor, 
and  Rev.  Nathaniel  Dwight  officiated  occasionally.  Tti 
1815,  the  society  united  with  the  state  in  hiring  a  minister, 
who  spent  a  part  of  each  sabbath  at  Newgate  prison,  and 
gave  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Hervey  Wilbur,  which  was  rejected. 

Rev.  Eber  L.  Clark  was  installed  July  3,  1816,  with  a 
salary  from  the  society  of  $300.  He  was  employed  during 
the  same  time  as  chaplain  of  the  prison,  at  which  institution 
he  preached  one  half  of  the  time.  He  was  dismissed  in 
1^20. 

Rev.  Stephen  Crosby  was  installed  in  1826,  and  remained 
pastor  of  the  church  until  January  3,    1832,  when  he  was 

*  Settlement,  £-200.  Salary,  £50,  for  the  first  four  years ; — thereafter, 
£6U,  and  twenty-seven  cords  of  \'^0od  annually, — one  half  of  the  settlement 
payable  in  provisions.  In  177S,  a  part  of  the  salary  was  paid  in  produce—^ 
wheat  dit  Jive,  rye  three,  and  corn  at  two  and  three  pence  per  bushel. 

t  The  male  members  were,  Deacon  Samuel  Owen,  Dea.  Asahel  Holcomb, 
John  Granger,  John  Cornish,  Richard  Gay,  Micah  Moore,  Capt.  Zacheus 
Giliett,  John  Drake,,  John  Thrall,  Nathaniel  Mather,  Benoni  Viets,  Timothy 
Hawley,  Thomas  Hawley  and  Zachary  Prince,  (colored.) 

10* 


110  HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 

dismissed.  Rev.  Daniel  Hemingway  was  installed  July  3, 
1832,  and  dismissed  in  1842.  The  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Jonas  B.  Clark,  was  ordained  November  1,  1842. 

The  construction  of  the  present  meeting-house  was  com- 
menced in  September  1830,  and  finished  June  1831,  at  an 
expense  of  $3,450.  It  is  a  handsome  edifice,  thirty-six  by 
fifty-two  feet,  having  a  basement  story,  tower  and  bell.  Its 
main  walls  are  built  with  trap  stone,  with  which  the  adja- 
cent mountain  abounds. 

Extracts  from  the  Society  Records — "  at  a  Legal]  meting  held 
by  a  jornmunt,  Janawary  12,  1742-3, — voted  that  this  Sosiatey 
will  rays  a  rate  of  two  shillings  on  the  povnd  on  the  comon  List 
given  Last  agvst  to  Defray  ovr  minestearell  and  Sosiatey  Charges. 

Voted  that  Left.  Phelps  and  Insine  Cornish  shall  be  a  Comittey 
to  Look  after  the  pasnege  Land  at  Sinisbury. 

Voted  that  Isaac  Gillitt  Juner  should  be  Collecterer  for  ye  year 
Insving  to  gether  the  rate. 

Voted  that  the  presant  Comitt(;y  shall  Lay  ovt  the  overplush 
nif  thare  be  aney  to  finnish  the  meting  hovs. 

Voted  that  Robord  Jonson  and  Elix  Cooners  rates  sbovld  be  svs- 
pended  that  ar  In  Joseph  forwards  hand  vntill  he  hath  oppertvnity 
td  git  them." 

In  1748,  a.  committee  was  appointed  by  the  society  to  demand 
their  part  of  the  "  Parsonage  land  in  Simsbury,  and  likewise  of 
the  old  meeting  house." 

A  difficulty  having  arose  about  singing,  it  was  voted  in  1773, 
"  to  sing  new  tunes  half  the  time,  and  old  tunes  the  other  half." 

In  1786,  when  measures  were  in  progress  to  establish  the  new 
town,  Granby,  the  society  voted,  yeas  thirty,  na_ys  seven,  "  that 
they  did  not  wish  to  be  set  off  from  the  south  part  of  the  town  of 
Simsbury." 

The  first  tax  raised  in  federal  money  was  in  December  17&4. 
At  about  this  time,  this  currency  was  substituted  for  the  old  one 
in  all  legal  proceedings. 

"  At  a  meeting  January  14,1805, — Voted  to  adjourn  to  the  28th 
instant. 

January  28, 1805  was  an  exceeding  stormy,  tedious  day,  and  the 
paths  so  filled  with  snow  that  no  one  attended  the  meeting  agree- 
able to  the  above  adjournment.     Test.  Israel  C  Phelps,  Clerk.'''' 

"  At  a  Society  Meeting  November  1818;— Voted  that  the  Pru- 
dential Committee  be  instructed  to  expend  thirty  dollars  of  the 
Appropriation  Money,  lately  received  by  the  Society  from  this 
State,  for  the  purchase  of  lottery  tickets.,  the  avails  of  which 
shall  be  applied  according  to  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  relative  to 
the  expeflditure  of  said  Appropriation." 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  Ill 

The  Episcopalians  have  a  church  at  Salmon  brook  vil- 
lage, erected  in  1792,  but  not  finished  until  1800,  when  a 
steeple  was  attached  to  it.  The  parish  is  small,  and  too 
weak  to  support  a  clergyman  permanently.  It  is  generally 
supplied  with  the  ministrations  of  the  gospel  for  a  part  of 
the  time  by  uniting  with  St.  Andrew's  Parish,  Scotland,  in 
hiring  a  Rector  for  both  Parishes.  Rev.  Ambrose  Todd, 
Asa  Cornwell,  Samuel  Griswold,  Nathaniel  Huse,  and  others 
occasionally,  have  been  the  officiating  clergymen. 

The  Methodists,  in  the  aggregate,  compose  a  numerous 
class,  and  have  a  number  of  places  for  holding  their  reli- 
gious meetings.  They  have  a  meeting-house,  erected  in 
1840,  which  stands  about  one  mile  north  of  the  old  Newgate 
prison,  and  are  about  buikling  anotlier  one  in  the  western 
part  of  the  town.  They  have  also  occasional  meetings  in 
other  places,  which,  in  general,  are  held  in  school  houses. 

There  is  a  society  of  Universalists  in  North  Granby.  The 
members  meet  every  other  Sunday  for  worship,  and  have 
taken  measures  to  erect  a  house  for  their  religions  meetings. 

The  town  was  incorporated  in  October  1786.  The  first, 
town  meeting  was  held  at  the  meeting-house  in  the  society 
of  Salmon  brook,  on  the  first  Monday  in  December  follow- 
ing. Asahel  Holcomb  Esq.  was  appointed  moderator,  Judali 
Holcomb  Jr.  town  clerk, — Capt.  Samuel  Hayes,  Asahel 
Holcomli  and  Lieut.  Pliny  Hiliyer,  selectmen, — Ensign 
Daniel  Holcomb,  "  head  constable  to  collect  the  state 
taxes," — Thomas  Spring,  town  collector  for  Salmon  brook 
society,  and  constable, — and  Capt.  Andrew  Hiliyer  town 
collector  for  Turkey  hills  society,  and  constable.  It  was 
voted  that  two-thirds  of  the  annual  meetings  be  holden  in 
Salmon  brook  society,  and  the  other  third  in  the  society  of 
Turkey  hills. 

By  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  the  town  was  restricted  to 
one  representative  in  the  General  Assembly  ;  but  in  1794, 
it  was  allowed  two  representatives  thereafter. 

About  the  year  1790,  an  academy  was  established  at  Sal- 
mon brook,  which  for  some  years  was  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition.    It  was  discontinued  soon  after  ISOO.     There  are 


112  HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 

two  school  societies  in  the  town,  eighteen  district  schools, 
and  four  post  offices. 

There  is  a  number  of  small  manufacturing  establishments 
in  the  town,  but  in  none  of  them  is  a  large  investment  of 
capital  required. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  1790,  was  2,595 ;— 1800, 
2,735;— 1810,  2,696  ;— 1820,  3,012;— 1830,  2,733  ;— 1840, 
2,611. 

For  lists  of  Judges  of  Probate,  Representatives,  Justices 
of  the  Peace  and  Town  Clerks,  see  Appendix,  F.  G.  H. 
and  I. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


The  Copper  Mines.    Discovery.    Magnitude  of  the  Works.    Amount  of  Disbursements. 
Smelting  VVorlis  at  Hanover.    Tile  Phceni.x  Alining  Company.     1705—1833. 

The  copper  mines,  known  afterwards  as  the  site  of  the 
celebrated  state  prison,  called  Newgate,  are  situated  on  the 
west  side  of  the  east  mountain  in  Granby.  The  place,  for 
many  years,  was  called  "  Copper  Hill."  It  is  not  known 
at  what  period  copper  ore  was  first  discovered  here.  The 
first  record  evidence  relating  to  the  mines  is  under  date  of 
December,  1705,  when,  at  a  town  meeting  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Simsbury,*  upon  suggestion  made  "  that  there  was 
a  mine  either  of  silver  or  copper  found  in  the  town,"  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  make  search  for  the  same  and 
report  to  a  future  meeting. 

The  report  of  the  committee  does  not  appear  on  record, 
but  is  presumed  to  have  been  favorable  to  the  discovery,  for 
in  1707  an  association,  comprising  all  such  proprietors  of 
the  town  as  had  subscribed,  or  who  within  a  limited  time 
should  subscribe  the  articles  of  agreement,  was  formed  to 
work  the  mines.  Copper-hill  at  this  time  was  a  wilder- 
ness ; — and  as  none  of  the  lands  in  that  vicinity  had  been 
sold  or  granted,  the  right  of  soil  remained  in  the  "proprie- 
tors of  the  town,"  nearly  all,  of  whom  came  into  this  agree- 
ment. The  association,  after  deducting  the  expenses  of  the 
works,  was  to  allow  the  town  ten  shillings  on  each  ton  of 
copper  produced,  and  to  divide  the  residue  among  the  part- 
ners of  the  concern  in  proportion  to  the  amounts  of  their 
respective  lists.  The  mining  operations  commenced  about 
this  time,  and  under  this  partnership  concern. 

*  The  mines  then,  and  for  eighty  years  afterwards,  were  within  the  town  of 

Simsbury. 


114 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY, 


This  company  dug  the  ore  only — they  did  not  undertake 
to  smelt  it.  But,  in  the  same  year,  they  entered  into  a  con- 
tract with  Messrs.  John  Woodbridge  of  Springfield,  Dudley 
Woodbridge  of  Simsbury,  and  Timothy  Woodbridge  Jr. 
then  of  Hartford,  all  clergymen,  by  which  these  gentlemen 
agreed  to  run  and  refine  the  ore,  and  cast  the  metal  into 
bars  fit  for  transportation  or  a  market ; — and  after  deducting 
the  tenth  part  belonging  to  the  town,  of  whicli  two-thirds 
thereof  was  to  be  given  for  the  maintenance  "  of  an  able 
schoolmaster  in  Simsbury,"  and  the  other  third  to  the 
"  Collegiate  school,"  Yale  College, — the  residue  was  to  be 
equally  divided  between  them  and  the  proprietors  or  work- 
ers of  the  mine. 

The  business  was  carried  on  in  this  manner  but  a  few 
years — probably  because  the  smelting  process  was  not 
understood,  and  could  not  be  proceeded  with  to  the  advan- 
tage of  either  party.  In  1712,  the  proprietors,  or  "  asso- 
ciation," appointed  a  committee  to  call  the  contractors  "  to 
account,  and,  if  necessary,  to  sue  them  for  the  ore  that  had 
been  brought  to  them  at  divers  times." 

The  legislature,  in  consideration  that  "  a  public  benefit" 
might  result  from  these  mines,  and  to  aid  the  proprietors  in 
the  management  thereof,  passed  an  act  in  1709,  vesting  the 
right  to  control  all  matters  relating  to  the  mines  "  in  the 
major  part  of  the  proprietors  according  to  the  interest  of  each 
proprietor,"  and  providing  for  organizing  and  holding  meet- 
ings of  the  proprietors,  and  appointing  a  committee  to  man- 
age their  concerns.  The  act  also  provided  for  the  adjudi- 
cation of  all  matters  in  controversy  between  any  and  all 
persons  connected  with  the  mines,  by  a  board  of  three  com- 
missioners, with  power  to  summon  a  jury  in  cases  where  the 
sum  in  controversy  exceeded  acertain  amount.  Thiscouit 
held  its  sessions  generally  at  the  mines,  though  sometimes 
at  other  places.  It  had  a  clerk,  and  its  jurisdiction,  in 
amount  of  damages  claimed,  was  co-extensive  with  that  of 
County  courts.  A  vast  deal  of  business  was  disposed  of  by 
this  tribunal,  by  the  agency  of  which,  both  time  and  expense 
was  saved  by  the  litigating  parties. 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  115 

T't  business  on  the  part  of  the  proprietors  was  managed 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  other  similar  acts,  by  a 
committee  appointed  annually  during-  the  whole  time  that 
the  mines  were  worked,  (before  the  Phoenix  company  com- 
menced operations,)  a  period  of  over  sixty  years.  This 
committee,  at  various  times,  made  leases  to  several  individ- 
uals or  companies,  of  certain  portions  or  specified  rights  in 
the  common  lands  where  copper  ore  had  been  or  might  be 
discovered,  during  a  term  of  years  ; — the  lessees  on  their 
part  agreeing  to  pay  to  the  committee  a  per  centage  on  the 
ore  procured  ;  or  a  certain  portion,  generally  one-thirtiieth 
part,  of  the  copper  extracted  from  the  ore  and  manufactured 
fit  for  market.  In  no  case  did  any  of  these  leases  extend 
beyond  thirty  years. 

Some  of  the  wealthiest  capitalists  in  Boston  and  New 
York,  took  leases  and  embarked  in  the  enterprise.  A  com- 
pany too,  belonging  to  Holland,  and  another  company 
belonging  to  London,  were  for  mau)'^  years  interested  in  the 
concern,  and  furnished  large  sums  of  money  to  carry  on  the 
works.  The  Woodbridge  family,  and  at  least  one  member 
of  the  Wyllys  family,  were  iTiany  years  largely  engaged  in 
the  business.  These  mining  operations  were  very  exten- 
sivel}^  pursued  from  1713  to  about  1737,  and  to  some  extent 
until  the  war  of  1775.  The  amount  of  money  expended 
cannot  be  ascertained,  but  must  have  been  very  large. 
During  a  period  of  two  years  from  August,  1716,  one  com- 
pany, under  the  superintendence  of  Elias  Boudinot,*  ex- 
pended about  three  thousand  dollars.  A  petition,  dated  in 
1723,  states  that  "  the  copper  works  had  brought  into  this 
plantation  from  foreign  countries,  about  ten  thousand 
pouucls."  Governor  Belcher,  of  Boston,  in  a  letter  dated 
1735,  states  that  during  about  twenty-three  years,  he  had 
disbursed  upwards  of  fifteen  thousand  pounds.f  The  expen- 

*  This  Mr.  Boudinot  resided  for  some  time  in  Simsbury.  He  was  ancestor 
of  the  late  Elias  Boudinot,  of  New  Jersey,  who  was  a  distinguished  states- 
man, and  the  first  superintendent  of  the  United  States  Mint  at  Philadelphia. 

t  This  letter  is  addressed  to  John  Humphry,  Joseph  Pettibone,  and  Samuel 
Pettibone,  a  committee  of  the  proprietors,  who  had  called  upon  him  to  settle 


116 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 


ditures  of  the  other  companies  are  not  known,  but  in  the 
aggregate  must  have  amounted  to  a  large  sum. 

After  J.721,  when  a  division  of  the  mining  lands  took 
place  among  the  lessees,  each  company  worked  at  separate 
mines,  all  situated  upon  Copper-hill,  and  (excepting  Hig- 
ley's)  within  the  compass  of  less  than  one  mile.  The  works 
most  improved,  and  where  the  greatest  excavations  were 
made,  were  subsequently  purchased  for  a  state  prison.  At 
this  place, two  perpendicular  shafts  were  dug,  chiefly  through 
rocks,  one  extending  to  the  depth  of  over  seventy  feet,  and 
the  other  about  thirty-five  feet.  From  the  bottom  of  these 
shafts  caverns  excavated  for  ore  extend  in  various  direc- 
tions, some  four  or  five  hundred  feet,  including  "levels" 
or  drains  for  discharging  the  water.  Some  parts  of  these 
excavations  are  now  entirely  filled  with  water.  At  Higley's 
mine,  which  lies  about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  this, 
extensive  old  workings  exist,  though  commenced  at  a  later 
period  than  the  others.  Mr.  Edmund  Quincy,  of  Boston, 
had  a  company  of  miners  working  at  this  place  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  of  the  revolution  ;  soon  after  which  the 
works  were  abandoned. 

In  1731,  a  new  company  was  formed,  consisting  of  Adam 
Winthrop,  George  Cradock,  James  Bowdoin,  Job  Lewis, 
Joshua  Winslow,  Benjamin  Pemberton  and  North  Ingham, 
all  of  Boston,  who  took  a  lease  by  which  a  sixth  pait  of  the 
mines  was  conveyed  to  them  for  the  term  of  thirty  years. 
This  lease  was  signed  by  Samuel  Humphry,  Joseph  Case, 
and  Joseph  Phelps,  a  committee  in  behalf  of  the  town  pro- 
prietors. It  is  not  known  to  what  extent,  or  how  long,  this 
company  pursued  the  business. 

In  addition  to  the  persons  already  named  as  lessees,  or 
otherwise  interested  in  the  mines,  Jared  Elliot  of  Killing- 
worth,*  Jahleel  Brenton  of  Rhode  Island,  Charles  Cromme- 

for  back  rents.  The  original  letter  is  in  the  possession  of  Dositheus  Humphry 
Esq.  a  descendant  of  John  Humphry  Esq. 

♦  A  clergyman  and  physician  of  great  celebrity,  who  resided  at  Killing- 
worth. 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  117 

lin  of  New  York,  William  Patridge  of  Boston,  and  sundry 
other  persons,  were  concerned  at  various  times,  and  in  difler- 
ent  companies. 

Engineers  and  superintendents  from  Europe,  some  of 
them  persons  of  dis'tinction,  and  miners  from  Germany, 
were  employed  in  these  works.  Among  them  were  Major 
John  Sydervelt,  who  remained  in  Simsbury  until  his  death  ; 
Caspar  Hoofman,  who  died  here  March  21, 1732;  and  John 
Christian  Midler,  a  principal  refiner,  who  married  and  died 
here.* 

Connected  with  these  mines  were  works  for  smelting  and 
refining.  These  were  erected  about  the  year  1721,  upon 
Hop  brook,  in  Simsbury,  a  few  rods  westerly  of  the  upper  or 
'Puller's  mills,  and  consisted  of  sundry  buildings,  in  addition 
to  a  mill  for  crashing  or  pounding  the  ore,  and  a  furnace. 
The  place  was  called  Hanover^  a  name  yet  retained,  which 
was  given  to  it  by  the  workmen  who  had  emigrated  from  a 
place  of  the  same  name  in  Germany.  A  portion  of  the  ore 
dug  at  the  mines  was  smelted  at  these  works, — but  to  what 
extent  this  business  was  prosecuted,  or  with  what  success,  is 
not  known.  In  1725,  when  this  property  was  attached, 
there  was  found  and  levied  upon  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred pounds  of  black  copper,  so  called,  it  is  supposed, 
because  it  was  not  refined.  This  branch  of  the  business, 
however,  being  prohibited  by  the  laws  of  Great  Britain,  was 
carried  on  secretly,  and  consequently  at  great  disadvantage  ; 
and  with  the  other  embarrassments  mentioned,  relating  to 
smelting,  resulted  in  a  probable  loss.  The  Hanover  works, 
of  which  but  few  indications  now  remain,  were  demolished 
many  years  since.  The  ore  procured  at  the  mines,  which 
was  not  brought  here  for  smelting,  was  shipped  to  England. 
One  cargo  was  token  by  the  French,  and  another,  accord- 
ing to  report,  was  sunk  in  the  English  channel  by  ship- 
wreck. Other  cargoes  arrived  ni  Europe,  where  the  ore 
was  smelted. 

*  His  wife  was  Hannah  Weston,  by  whom  he  had  two  children  before  1731. 
It  is  believed  that  after  his  death   the  name  was  changed  to  Miller,  and  that 
some  of  his  descendants  now  live  in  Granby. 
11 


118  HISTORY     OF    GRANBY. 

In  these  mining  opei-ations,  but  little  comparatively  was 
done  after  1745,  though  at  no  time,  it  is  believed,  was  the 
business  wholly  abandoned  until  1778.  In  1772,  Captain 
James  Holmes,  an  Englishman,  then  a  resident  of  Salisbury, 
took  a  lease  of  the  principal  mine  for  twenty  years,  which 
he  sold  the  next  year  to  the  state  for  a  prison. 

A  coin  made  fto  i  this  ore,  called  "Higley's  Coppers," 
was  at  one  time  in  some  circulation  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
mines.  It  is  said  to  have  passed  for  two  and  sixpence, 
(forty-two  cents,)  in  paper  currency  it  is  presumed,  though 
composed  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  of  copper. 

One  of  these  coins,  dated  1737,  is  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
Connecticut  Historical  Society.  Its  inscription  on  one  side 
is,  "I  am  good  coppe  ;  " — on  the  other,  "Value  me  as 
you  please."  These  coppers  were  much  used  for  iDclting" 
up  with  gold  in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry,  and  for  this 
purpose  were  considered  vastly  preferable  to  ordinary  cop- 
per coin.  They  were  not  in  circulation  as  a  currency  after 
the  peace  of  1783.  The  inventor  and  maker,  is  supposed 
to  have  been  Doct.  Samuel  Higley  who,  a  few  years  before 
this,  had  attempted  to  manufacture  steel,  and  was  somewhat 
distinguished  for  enterprises  of  this  character. 

The  Phoenix  Mining  Company,  incorporated  in  1830, 
having  purchased  tlie  state  prison  property,  consisting  of 
about  five  acres  of  land,  with  sundry  buildings  enclosed  by 
a  stone  wall,  and  having  secured,  by  long  leases,  the  right 
of  mining  upon  large  tracts  of  other  lands  lying  in  the 
vicinity,  commenced  mining  operations  in  1831,  under  the 
superintendency  of  Richard  Bacon  Esq.  of  Simsbury.  Owing 
however  to  some  unforeseen  difficulties  in  the  process  of 
smelting  and  refining  the  ore,  and  other  obstructions  occa- 
sioned by  the  peciminry  embarrassments  of  the  times,  the 
works  after  a  short  time  were  discontinued.  That  they  will 
bs  resumed  at  some  future  time  under  more  favorable  aus- 
pices, and  with  a  fairer  prospect  of  success,  is  confidently 
believed  by  those  who  are  conversant  with  the  business,  and 
have  devoted  to  these  mines  a  crit  cal  examination. 

A  gentleman  who  has  been   extensively  engaged  in  this 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  119 

business  in  Europe,  and  who  is  said  to  be  an  experienced 
and  scientific  miner,  speaking  of  these  mines,  says  : — 

"  The  principal  vein  is  large,  and  one  which,  in  mining 
phraseology,  would  be  termed  ajiat  lode,  making  with  the 
horizon  an  angle  of  perhaps  twenty -three  degrees.  Its 
matrix  is  a  yellowish  grey  sandstone,  nearly  similar  to  the 
common  sandstone  of  the  neighborhood,  but  yet  so  percep- 
tibly differing  from  it,  as  to  allov/  of  its  being  traced  at  sur- 
face, for  at  least  a  mile,  north  and  south,  by  its  characteristic 
color  and  general  appearance.  In  this  matrix,  copper  is 
pretty  generally  disseminated,  principally  in  nodules  of  rich 
brittle  grey  sulphuret,  interspersed  here  and  there  with 
minute  strings  of  common  yellow  pyrites.  The  lode  ap- 
pears to  be  favorably  disposed  for  yielding  mineral  and 
copper  ore  in  particular." 

The  ore,  it  is  said,  produces  on  an  average,  from  ten  to 
twelve  per  cent  of  copper,  but  some  large  specimens  have 
been  obtained,  producing  from  thirty  to  forCy  per  cent.  It 
is  of  the  kind  technically  called  "  refractory," — a  species 
that  ordinarily  resists  the  usual  process  of  smelting.  Other 
processes,  however,  have  led  to  more  successful  remits. 
By  skill,  enterprise  and  new  experiments,  all  impediments 
of  this  nature  vvi.l,  it  is  believed  be  easily  removed. 


CHA  PTER    X. 


Nbwoate  Prison.  Establishment.  Destruction  of  Buildings  by  Fire.  Escape  of  Con- 
victs. Confinement  of  Tories.  Employment  of  Prisoners.  Police  Regulations. 
1773—1827. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  the  May  session,  1773,  in  view 
of  establishing  a  state  prison,  appointed  William  Pitkin, 
Erastus  Wolcott,  and  Jonathan  Humphrey  Esq'rs,  a  com- 
mittee "  to  view  and  explore  the  copper  mines  at  Sims- 
bury, — their  situation,  nature  and  circumstances,  and  to 
examine  and  consider  whether  they  may  be  beneficially 
applied  to  the  purpose  of  confining,  securing  and  profitably 
employing  such  criminals  and  delinquents  as  may  be  com- 
mitted to  them,  by  any  future  law  or  laws  of  this  Colony, 
in  lieu  of  the  infamous  punishments  in  divers  cases  now 
appointed  ; — and  at  what  probable  expense  the  said  mines 
may  be  obtained  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  ;"  and  make 
report  to  tlie  then  session  of  the  Assembly. 

Upon  their  report  that  the  mines  were  subject  to  an  unex- 
pired lease  of  nineteen  years,  which  could  be  purchased  for 
about  sixty  pounds,  and  that  by  an  expenditure  of  about 
thirty-seven  pounds,  the  caverns  could  be  so  secured  that  it 
would  be  "  next  to  impossible  for  any  person  to  escape" 
from  them;  the  same  gentlemen  were  invested  "with  full 
power  to  agree  with  the  proprietors  of  said  mines,  or  the 
lessees  thereof,  to  receive,  keep  and  emplorf  in  said  mines  such 
criminals  as  may  by  law  be  sentenced  to  such  punishment, 
or  to  purchase  in  the  remaining  term  in  said  leases,  for  such 
purposes,  and  according  to  their  best  discretion  effectually 
to  secure  said  mines  suitably  to  employ  such  persons  as 
may  be  there  confined  by  order  of  law." 

The  committee  reported   at  the  next  session,  Oct.  1773, 


HISTORY    OF     GRANBY.'  121 

that  they  had  purcliased  the  remaining  term  of  Hohnes' 
lease,  being  about  nineteen  years,  for  ^660 — that  by  blasting 
locks  they  had  "  prepared  a  well  finished  lodging  room, 
about  fifteen  feet  by  twelve,"  in  the  caverns, — and  had 
fixed  over  the  west  shaft  a  large  iron  door,  which  they  "  ap- 
prehend will  be  an  effectual  security  for  the  confinement  of 
persons  that  rnay  be  condemned  there  for  employment." 
The  whole  expense,  including  the  purchase  money,  amount- 
ed to  three  hundred  and  seventy  dollars.  The  east  shaft 
which  extends  perpendicularly  about  seventy  feet,  chiefly 
through  a  solid  rock,  was  left  open.  There  were  no  walls 
provided,  nor  were  there  any  buildings  upon  the  premises. 
At  this  session,  an  Act  was  passed  "constituting  the  subter- 
raneous caverns  and  buildings  in  the  copper  mines  in  Sims- 
bury,  a  public  gaol  and  workliouse  for  the  use  of  the 
Colony  ;"  to  which  was  given  the  name  of  Newgate  Prison. 
The  prisoners  were  to  be  employed  in  min-jng.  The  crimes, 
whicli  by  the  Act  subjected  offenders  to  confinement  and 
labor  in  the  prison,  were — burglary,  horse  stealing,  and 
counterfeiting  the  public  bills  or  coins,  or  making  instru- 
ments or  dies  therefor. 

The  first  overseers  of  Newgate  appointed,  were  Major 
Erastus  Wolcott,  Josiah  Bissell  and  Jonathan  Humphrey 
Esq'rs.  Mr.  John  Viets,*  who  lived  near  the  place,  was 
appointed  master,  or  keeper  of  the  prison.  Food  for  the 
prisoners  was  supplied  by  him. 

The  first  convict  received  into  the  prison  was  John  Hin- 
son.  He  was  committed  Dec,  22,  1773,  and  escaped  on  the 
9ih  of  January  following,  by  being  drawn  up  through  the 
eastern  shaft  by  a  rope,  assisted,  it  is  said,  by  a  woman,  to 
whon)  he  was  paying  his  addresses.  On  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1774,  three  prisoners  were  received  ; — one  of  whom 
escaped  on  the  9th,  and  the  other  two  on  the  23d  of  the 
next  April.  One  committed  on  the  5th  of  April,  escaped  on 
the  9th  of  the  same  month,  having  been    in  confinement 

*  The  ancestor  of  Mr.  Viets  was  a  German,  and  came  to  this  country  with 
a  company  of  mineri,  to  which  he  was  attached  as  physician  and  surgeon. 
11* 


122  HISTORY     OF     GRANBY, 

four  days.  It  is  not  known  bow  these  escapes  were  effected. 
Besides  the  east  shaft  which  was  left  open,  there  were  other 
parts  of  the  caverns  which  had  not  been  properly  secured. 
None  of  these  prisoners,  it  is  understood,  were  retaken. 
By  this  time,  the  overseers  had  probably  changed  their 
minds  respecting  the  perfect  security  of  the  prison.  A  night 
watch  was  employed  during  part  of  this  time. 

Soon  after  the  escape  of  Hinson,  the  General  Assembly 
in  January  1774,  directed  the  overseers  to  cause  the  east 
shaft  to  be  effectually  secured  with  stone  or  iron,  and  to 
build  a  log  block-house  with  two  or  three  rooms,  one  of 
which  was  to  be  placed  directly  over  the  west  shaft.  These 
improvements  were  made  during  this  year,  birt  not  until 
after  the  escape  of  the  other  prisoners  mentioned  above. 

In  the  spring  of  1775,  three  prisoners  escaped,  all  of  whom 
were  retaken.  At  the  May  session  of  this  year,  the  Assem- 
bly ordered  the  overseers  to  make  sale  of  the  ore  dug  at  the 
prison.  There  were  at  this  time  nine  convicts  in  confine- 
ment, all  of  whom  were  engaged  in  excavating  copper  ore 
under  the  charge  of  two  persons  employed  as  miners. 

The  block-house  having  been  destroyed  by  fire  in  the 
spring  of  1776,  the  Assembly,  in  May,  ordered  a  new  one 
to  be  constructed,  and  also  a  frame  dwelling  house,  for  the 
keeper  of  the  prison,  one  story  high,  eighteen  by  thirty  feet. 
This  burning  was  by  design,  to  favor  the  escape  of  the 
convicts,  none  of  whom  however  escaped  at  this  time. 

In  1777,  the  block-house  was  again  burnt,  and  another 
one  ordered  to  be  built.  All  the  prisoners  were  removed  to 
the  jail  in  Hartford  for  confinement.  It  is  supposed  that 
the  prison  was  not  repaired,  or  used  as  such,  until  1780. 
If  it  was  repaired  before  that  time,  the  buildings  were  again 
destroyed,  for  at  the  session  of  the  Assembly  in  January 
1779,  the  prison  being  represented  "to be  in  a  ruinous  con- 
dition," and  "  altogether  insufficient  to  answer  the  salutary 
purposes  for  which  it  was  prepared,"  the  overseers  were 
directed  to  erect  new  buildings,  with  "  a  block-house  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  over  the  mouth  of  the  cavern,  suitable 
and  convenient  to  secure  and  employ  the  prisonors  in  labor 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 


123 


in  the  daytime  ;"  and  when  completed  to  appoint  a  keeper 
of  the  prison. 

The  prison  was  completed  in  November  1780,  and  was 
supplied  with  a  military  guard  consisting  of  a  lieutenant, 
one  sergeant,  one  corporal  and  twenty-four  privates.  Up  to 
this  time,  the  prisoners  had  been  employed  in  the  mines, 
and  been  furnished  with  food  by  persons  not  connected  with 
the  prison.  Now  they  were  employed  in  mechanical  ope- 
rations, and  supplied  with  food  prepared  in  the  prison. 

The  prison  had  been  left  entirely  unprotected  by  any 
wall  until  1781.  In  February  of  this  year,  the  overseers 
were  directed  by  the  Assembly  to  construct,  at  a  convenient 
distance  around  the  prison  and  buildings,  a  piquet  fence 
with  small  bastions  at  the  corners  for  defense.  A  work  of 
this  kind  was  much  needed,  and  notwithstanding  the  com- 
bustible material  with  which  it  was  constructed,  it  tended 
very  much  to  strengthen  the  prison.  In  other  respects  too, 
the  prison  was  in  a  much  better  condition  than  at  any  pre- 
vious time. 

But,  one  of  the  most  daring  and  successful  attempts  ever 
made  at  this  prison  to  overcome  the  guard  and  throw  open 
the  prison  doors,  was  made  after  this  time,  and  when,  as 
was  supposed,  a  general  escape  of  the  convicts  was  imprac- 
ticable. On  the  l8th  of  May  1781,  the  prisoners,  amount- 
ing to  twenty-eight  persons,  most  of  whom  were  tories,  rose 
upon  the  guard,  seized  their  arms,  and  made  good  their 
escape — carrying  their  captured  arms  with  them.  Every 
prisoner  left.  The  design  was  so  well  planned  and  execu- 
ted, that  but  a  small  number-of  them  were  re-captured.  . 

It  was  supposed  that  one  or  more  of  the  guard  had  been 
bribed  to  favor  the  escape  of  the  prisoners.  About  ten 
o'clock  at  night  on  the  18th  of  May  1781,  when  all  the 
guard  but  two  had  retired  to  rest,  a  wife  of  one  of  the  pris- 
oners appeared,  to  whom  permission  was  given  to  visit  her 
husband  in  the  caverns.  Upon  the  hatches  being  opened 
to  admit  her  passing  down,  the  prisoners,  who  were  at  the 
door  and  prepared  for  the  encounter,  rushed  up,  seized  the 
guns  of  the  sentry  on  duty,  who  made  little  or  no  resistance, 


124  HISTORY    OF     GRANBY. 

and  became  masters  of  the  guard  room  before  those  who 
were  asleep  conid  be  aroused  and  prepaied  to  make  defense. 
One  brave  fellow,  by  name  of  Sheldon,  who  was  an  officer 
of  the  g-uard,  fought  valiantly,  and  was  killed  upon  the  spot, 
having  been  pierced  by  a  bayonet  through  his  body.  A  few 
others,  belonging  to  the  guard,  received  trifling  injuries  from 
clubs  with  which  the  assailants  were  armed.  The  guard 
was  easil}'^  overcome.  A  few  sought  safety  by  fliglit, — but 
the  greater  number  were  disarmed  by  the  prisoners  and 
locked  up  in  the  caverns.  The  prisoners,  having  equipped 
themselves  with  the  captured  arms,  escaped,  and  with  few 
exceptions  had  the  adroitness,  or  good  luck,  to  avoid  a 
re-capture. 

The  General  Assembly,  then  in  session,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  investigate  this  matter,  and  ascertain  the  causes 
of  the  disaster.  The  committee  after  a  critical  examina- 
tion, reported  the  testimony  taken  by  them  ; — from  which 
it  appears  that  the  discipline  of  the  guard  was  defective — 
that  their  conduct  at  the  time  of  the  revolt  was,  with  few 
exceptions,  cowardly — and  that  at  least  one  person,  by  the 
name  of  Lilly,  was  bribed  and  favored  the  escape  of  the 
prisoners.  Lilly  was  afterwards  prosecuted  and  convicted 
of  this  offence;  and  the  guard  was  so  remodeled  as  to  give 
greater  security  to  the  prison  thereafter. 

On  the  6th  of  November  1782,  the  prison  buildings  were 
once  more  destroyed  by  fire;  but  how,  or  by  what  means 
the  fire  was  communicated,  does  not  appear.  N  o  doubt, 
however,  exists  that  the  conflagration  was  by  design,  in 
ord.^r  to  facilitate  the  escape  of  the  tories  who  were  there  in 
confinement.  Duting  the  progress  of  the  fire,  one  Abel 
Davis,  who  was  a  sergeant  of  the  guard,  opened  the  hatches 
and  suffered  as  many  of  the  prisoners,  as  were  so  disposed, 
to  escape  from  the  prison.  A  large  number  of  them  did 
escape,  most  of  whom  were  re-captured  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  secured.  Davis,  who  seems  to  have  been  very 
illiterate,  and  altogether  unfit  for  the  station  which  he  held, 
was  convicted  of  the  ollence  of  aiding  in  the  escape,  and 
sentenced  to  a  fine  and  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail. 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  125 

The  prisoners  remaining  after  this  conflagration,  with 
those  subsequently  re-taken,  were  removed  to  the  jail  in 
Hartford.  The  prison  was  not  repaired,  nor  used  again 
until  1790.  Indeed,  it  Avould  seem  that,  at  this  time,  the 
project  of  keeping  up  a  prison  at  this  place  was  abandoned 
altogether.  No  measures  were  taken  to  repair  it, — on  the 
contrary,  in  May  1784,  all  the  property  remaining  at  the 
prison  and  saved  from  the  fire,  consisting  of  iron,  timber,  clo- 
thing, &c.  was  ordered  by  the  legislature  to  be  sold,  and  the 
avails  paid  into  the  treasury.  Little  else  but  disaster  had 
attended  the  prison  from  its  establishment.  More  than  one 
half  of  all  the  prisoners  committed  to  it  had  escaped,  and 
during  the  nine  years  of  its  continuance,  the  buildings  con- 
nected with  it  had  been  destroyed  by  fire  three  times.  In 
no  respect  had  the  prison  been  properly  constructed  or 
secured.  The  buildings  were  of  wood,  and  so  exposed  as 
to  be  easily  fired  from  without.  Prison  building  in  those 
days,  as  well  as  prison  discipline,  was  not  so  well  under- 
stood as  at  the  present  time.  All  the  jails  in  the  state  were 
then  constructed  of  wood. 

And  yet  this  prison  had  a  reputation  abroad  for  great 
strength  and  security.  Its  fame  had  spread  through  the 
country  far  and  wide.  For  a  long  time  it  was  considered 
the  strongest  prison  in  the  United  States.  In  1775,  Gen. 
Washington  sent  to  it  some  prisoners  for  safe  custody,  whom 
he  deemed  such  "  atrocious  villains,"  as  to  require  a  stronger 
place  for  their  confinement  than  could  be  found  near  his 
camp.*     And,  in   1781,  Congress  proposed  to  make  these 

♦  Letter  from  Gen.  Washington,  to.  the  Committee  of  Safety,  Simsbury. 

Cambridge,  December  11,  1775. 
Gentlemen  ; — The  prisoners  which  will  be  delivered  you  with  this,  hav- 
ing been  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  deemed  to  be  such  flagrant  and  atro- 
cious villains  that  they  cannot  by  any  means  be  set  at  large  or  confined  in  any 
place  near  this  camp,  were  sentenced  to  be  sent  to  Symsbury  in  Connecticut. 
You  will  therefore  be  pleased  to  have  them  secured  in  your  jail,  or  in  such 
other  manner  as  to  you  shall  seem  necessary,  so  that  they  cannot  possibly 
make  their  escape.  The  charges  of  their  imprisonment  will  be  at  the  Con- 
f-inental  expense. 

I  am  &,c. 

George  Washington. 


126  HISTORY    OF     GRANBY. 

mines  "  a  state  prison  for  the  reception  of  British  prisoners 
of  war,  and  for  the  purpose  of  retaliation ;"  and  asked  from 
the  Governor  of  this  state  a  plan  and  estimates  of  expense. 
Governor  Trumbull  laid  the  matter  before  the  General 
Assembly,  who  assented  to  the  proposition,  and  requested 
him  to  furnish  for  Congress  the  plan  and  estimates  required. 
What  these  were,  do  not  appear,  but  the  subject  was  drop- 
ped, probably  for  the  reason  that  soon  after  this  time  a  ter- 
mination of  the  war  was  anticipated. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  confinement  of 
tories  in  this  prison.  No  person  of  this  description  was 
imprisoned  here  until  1780,  when  an  Act  was  passed  author- 
ising- the  superior  court  to  sentence  to  confinement  in  New- 
gate, such  persons  as  should  be  convicted  of  certain  specified 
crimes  against  the  government  not  amounting  to  treason, 
but  which  consisted  of  certain  overt  acts  deemed  prejudicial 
to  the  cause  of  independenee.  Courts  Mai  tial  too,  exercised 
the  power  of  sentencing  to  this  prison  persons  found  guilty 
of  similar  offenses.  The  whole  number  of  persons,  called 
tories,  imprisoned,  did  not,  it  is  believed,  exceed  fo  ty.  At 
one  time  there  were  upwards  of  twenty  in  the  prison,  all  of 
whom,  as  before  stated,  escaped  on  the  18th  of  May  1781. 
Among  them  were  persons  of  some  note  and  distinction. 
The  leader  of  this  rebellion  was  a  Captain  Peter  Sackett, 
who  had  rendered  himself  notorious,  as  well  as  extremely 
obnoxious,  by  his  adherence  to  the  cause  o  the  British 
government. 

A  new  Act,  more  perfect  and  specific  in  its  details  than 
the  former  one,  was  passed  in  1790,  constituting  the  caverns 
at  these  mines,  with  a  small  quantity  of  land  over  tliem,  a 
state  prison,  denominated,  as  before,  Newgate.  The  act 
provided  for  the  appointment  of  three  overseers,  who  were 
directed  to  cause  a  workshop  and  a  dwelling  house  for  the 
keeper  to  be  erected,  and  to  enclose  them  with  a  piquet  wall 
or  fence, — and  to  appoint  a  keeper,  with  a  guard  not  exceed, 
ing  ten  persons,  to  manage  and  protect  the  prison.  The 
expense  of  rebuilding  it  was  limited  to  ^£750.  Persons  con- 
victed of  burglary,  robbery,  horse-stealing,  counterfeiting, 


HISTORY     OF     GRANBY. 


127 


passing  counterfeit  money,  knowing  it  to  be  such,  and  aid- 
ing in  the  escape  of  convicts  from  the  prison,  were  to  be 
confined  at  hard  hibor  in  this  place  for  a  term  of  yeais,  or, 
in  some  cases,  duriiig  the  life  of  the  culprit.  Subsequently, 
for  a  few  other  crimes,  the  offender  was  subjected  to  impris- 
onment here. 

The  Hon.  John  Treadwell,  and  Roger  Newberry,  and 
Plinv  Hillyer  Esq.  were  appointed  the  overseeis.  A  large 
workshop  and  a  dwelling  house,  both  of  brick,  were  con- 
structed, together  with  sundry  other  buildings  of  minor  con- 
sequence. Under  the  west  end  of  the  dwelling  house  was 
a  small  room  well  secured  by  massive  stone  walls,  from 
which  led  the  only  passage  to  the  caverns  beneath.  This 
entrance  was  perforated  through  a  solid  rock,  and  contained 
a  ladder  by  which  passage  to  or  from  the  caverns  was  made. 
The  mouth  of  this  entrance,  as  was  also  the  one  leading  into 
this  room  from  the  guard-room  above,  was  well  secured 
by  a  trap  door  with  lock  and  heavy  bolts.  A  wooden  fence, 
furnished  with  spikes  on  the  top.  enclosed  these  buildings 
with  about  half  an  acre  of  land  for  a  yard. 

The  prison  was  finished  in  October  1790,  and  Major  Peter 
Curtiss  was  appointed  the  keeper,  to  whom  with  a  guard  of 
ten  men  was  committed  its  management. 

From  this  time,  the  affairs  of  the  piison  assumed  a  new 
aspect.  The  prison  was  more  securely  built,  and  better 
managed  than  at  any  former  period.  Escapes  from  it  were 
rare,  and  there  were  no  instances  of  a  general  rebellion,  or 
an  entire  clearing  out  of  its  inmates  as  formerly. 

The  system  of  discipline  and  employment,  as  at  first 
adopted,  continued  to  be  followed,  with  but  slight  varia- 
tions, imtil  the  removal  of  the  convicts  to  the  new  state 
prison  in  1827.  As  a  general  rule,  the  prisoners  were  lodged 
in  the  caverns.  At  day  light,  they  weie  taken  up  and 
removed  to  the  work  shop,  where  they  remained  until  four 
o'clock  P.  M.,  when  tliey  were  returned  to  the  caverns. 
They  took  their  meals  in  the  work  shop.  These  consisted 
of  coarse  food  prepared  in  the  prison,  which  was  droit  out 
to  them  by  rations.     Nearly  all  of  them  wore  fetters  strongly 


128 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 


rivetted  to  their  ankles.  The  most  refractory,  and  desperate 
of  their  number,  were  more  heavily  ironed.  In  general, 
when  at  work,  they  were  chained  at  their  respective  blocks 
in  the  shop,  and  a  portion  of  them  were  secured  by  an  extra 
chain  leading-  from  a  band  around  the  neck  to  a  beam  in  the 
builch'ng. 

The  punishment  for  misconduct,  or  offences  committed 
in  the  prison,  was  whipping,  short  rations,  extra  ironing, 
and,  in  some  specified  cases  designated  by  statute,  an  addi- 
tional term  of  imprisonment.  Each  prisoner  had  a  fixed 
amount  of  work  to  perform  each  day.  Those  who  did  extra 
work  had  the  benefit  of  it  in  an, allowance  on  the  bills  of 
costs  incurred  in  their  prosecutions. 

At  first,  all  the  prisoners  were  employed  in  making 
wrought  nails,  the  iron  for  which  was  procured  at  Canaan 
and  Salisbury.  This  business  was  followed  during  the 
whole  time  of  the  continuance  of  the  prison  at  this  place, 
and  was,  for  many  years,  the  chief  occupation  of  the  con- 
victs. A  few  other  branches  of  manufacture  were  carried 
on,  though  not  extensively.  After  1820,  a  large  number 
of  the  convicts  were  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  shoes, 
wagons  and  various  other  articles,  by  which  a  greater  profit 
was  derived  than  from  the  nail  making  business.  Indeed, 
the  manufacture  of  nails  at  this  place  had  always  been 
attended  with  loss  to  the  state. 

In  1802,  a  substantial  stone  wall,  twelve  feet  high,  was 
built  around  the  premises,  having  a  gate  which  was  never 
opened  except  by  a  sentinel  under  arms  on  duty.  This 
wall  was  built  by  Colonel  Calvin  Barber  of  Simsbury.  All 
the  guards  wlien  on  duty  were  underarms,  and  prepaied  at 
all  times  to  use  their  weapons  in  any  conflict  or  outbreak 
that  miglit  liappen.  Theii  number,  at  first  ten,  was  subse- 
quently increased  to  seventeen.  The  government,  as  well 
as  the  duties  of  the  guard,  partook  strongly  of  a  military 
character. 

Additional  buildings  were  subsequently  erected.  About 
1815,  a  two  story  building,  nearly  fifty  feet  long,  was  put 
up  in  the  south  east  corner  of  the  yard.     The  lower  story 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  129 

was  appropriated  for  cells,  and  the  upper  one  for  a  chapel 
in  which  divine  service  was  thereafter  usually  held  once  on 
each  Sunday.  Adjoining  this  on  the  west,  was  another 
buildings  of  about  the  same  length,  the  lower  story  of  which 
was  occupied  for  a  cooper's  shop,  hospital  and  kitchen,  and 
the  upper  story  as  a  shoe  maker's  shop.  In  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  yard  was  another  building  used  for  making 
wagons.  The  cells  above  mentioned  being  weakly  con- 
structed, were  not  much  used.  Still  later,  about  1824,  a 
large  edifice  of  stone  and  brick  was  built  on  the  westerly 
side  of  the  yard,  which  contained  a  tread  mill,  with  the 
usual  appurtenances  forgrinding  grain, — a  number  of  strong 
cells, — apartments  for  female  convicts, — a  kitchen,  office, 
&c.  This  building  was  erected  chiefly  by  convict  labor. 
The  tread  mill,  however,  like  all  other  similar  ones,  proved 
a  failure — the  labor  of  working  it  being  found  too  expensive 
for  the  state,  and  quite  too  cruel  for  the  convicts. 

In  the  basement  story  of  the  guard-house,  and  near  the 
entrance  to  the  caverns,  was  a  strongly  built  apartment 
about  fifteen  feet  square,  called  the  "jug."  This  room  was 
used  at  first  for  the  sick,  and  occasionally  as  a  lodging  room 
for  that  class  of  prisoners  who  were  known  to  be  well  dispo- 
sed, and  from  whom  no  danger  of  attempting  an  escape  was 
apprehended.  The  other  prisoners  were  lodged  in  the  cav- 
erns, where  their  beds  consisted  of  two  large  platforms  sup- 
plied with  straw  and  a  few  blankets.  The  novice  in  crime, 
and  the  most  hardened  villain,  were  thus  promiscuously 
huddled  together  without  any  restraint,  or  immediate  over- 
sight by  any  of  the  guard  during  the  night  season. 

Thenumberof  criminals  in  confinement  after  1800,  varied 
from  about  forty-five  to  sixty,  until  1821,  when  the  number 
of  offenses,  punishable  by  confinement  in  Newgate,  was 
considerably  increased  by  legislative  enactments.  This, 
with  the  increase  of  crime,  and  the  change  about  this  lime 
of  the  law  relating  to  the  punishinent  of  female  convicts, 
by  which  they  were  subjected  to  imprisonment  here  in  the 
same  manner  as,  for  sinnlar  oflTenses,  tlie  males  were,  caused 
a  considerable  addition  to  the  number  of  prisoners.  In 
12 


130  HISTORY    OF    GRAN  BY. 

1827,  when  they  were  removed  to  the  new  prison  at  Weth- 
ersfiekl,  they  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven. 

The  prison  was  never  able  to  support  itself  from  the  avails 
of  convict  labor.  The  deficiency,  which  was  paid  from  the 
state  treasury,  varied  from  five  thousand  to  over  thirteen 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.  It  would  average  about 
seven  thousand  dollars  a  year,  including  outlays  for  new 
buildings. 

The  state  having  provided  a  new  prison  at  Wethersfield, 
all  the  prisoners  were  removed  so  as  to  commence  operations 
there  on  the  first  of  October  1827.  The  old  prison,  with  its 
buildings  and  some  five  acres  of  land,  were  sold  in  1830,  to 
the  Phoenix  Mining  Company,  for  twelve  hundred  dollars. 

This  place  v/as  greatly  resorted  to  by  visitors,  and  espe- 
cially so  during  the  winter  months,  when  tbere  was  sleigh- 
ing.* Many  of  them  descended  into  the  caverns,  and  all 
had  an  opportunity  to  inspect  generally  the  discipline  and 
the  labor-system  of  the  prison.  To  those  unaccustomed 
to  the  scene,  a  visit  to  the  nail-shop  presented  a  view 
extremely  revolting,  and  to  some  even  terrific.  Here  might 
be  seen  some  fifty  men,  black  and  white,  and  so  besmeared 
as  to  be  hardly  distinguishable,  chained  to  their  blocks, 
busily  engaged  in  a  nois)^  employment,  and  closely  watched 
and  guarded  by  a  file  of  men  under  arms.  Add  to  this,  the 
appearance  of  the  room  with  its  inmates  and  implements, 
as  viewed  by  strong  lights  proceeding  from  the  various  fur- 
naces, and  the  continual  clatter  of  hammers  used  in  forging 
nails, — and  some  idea  of  tiie  scene,  though  necessarily  an 
imperfect  one,  may  be  imagined. 

Besides  the  revolt  under  Capt.  Sackett,  which  has  already 
been  mentioned,  and  which  was  so  successfully  carried  out, 
there  have  been  several  escapes,  and  attempts  to  break  the 
prison  ;  a  few  of  which  are  worihy  of  notice. 

Shortly  before  1800,  a  number  of  prisoners  made  their 
escape  by  opening  one  of  the  shafts  which  had  been  filled 

*  In  a  report  made  by  the  overseers  in  181 D,  it  is  stated  that  the  number  of 
visitors  to  the  prison  would  average  four  hundred  and  fifty  mont/t/y. 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  131 

up  and,  as  was  supposed,  well  secured  by  stones  strongly 
bolted  together.  It  was  a  work  of  great  labor,  and  must 
have  been  a  long  while  in  progress. 

In  1802,  when  the  keeper  and  nearly  all  the  officers  and 
guard  were  sick  and  off  duty,  the  prisoners,  at  the  time  of 
being  returned  to  the  caverns,  rose  npon  the  small  remnant 
of  guard  able  to  be  on  duty,  and  attempted  to  escape.  By 
the  prompt  action  and  indomitable  courage  of  Mr.  Dan 
Forward,  a  private,  and  who  was  indued  Avith  great  mus- 
cular strength,  the  prisoners  were  subdued  and  safely  secured 
under  the  hatches.  It  is  supposed  that  this  revolt  was  ill 
matured,  or  not  generally  known,  for  it  did  not  commence 
until  a  large  portion  of  the  convicts  had  descended  into  the 
caverns.  Had  it  been  well  managed,  it  would,  probably, 
have  succeeded,  as  the  guard  was  too  weak  to  quell  a  gen- 
eral rebellion  on  an  occasion  like  this. 

There  was  another  rebellion  in  1806.  Nearly  all  the 
convicts  employed  in  the  nail  shop  had  been  supplied  with 
pewter  keys,  with  which  to  unlock  their  fastenings,  manu- 
factured by  some  very  skillful  mechanics  then  in  prison. 
At  a  given  signal,  the  convicts  were  to  unlock  the  chains 
which  confined  them  to  their  stations,  and  make  a  concerted 
attack  upon  the  guard.  The  signal  was  given — the  men 
released  themselves — and  two  of  them  commenced  the 
attack  by  siezing  the  officer  on  duty  so  suddenly  as  to  disable 
him  from  using  his  weapons  in  defense.  A  short  scuffle 
ensued,  during  which  one  of  the  guard,  not  on  duty  in  that 
shop,  ran  to  the  place  and  shot  one  of  the  ring  leaders,  a 
negro,  dead  upon  the  spot.  This  event  so  disheartened  the 
rest  that  they  immediately  returned  to  their  places  and  sued 
for  mercy. 

In  the  spring  of  1822,  nearly  all  the  prisoners,  then 
amounting  to  over  one  hundred,  concerted  a  plan  to  over- 
power the  guard  and  effect  their  escape.  The  time  selected 
for  the  attempt  was  during  the  temporary  absence  of  the 
keeper  and  three  of  the  guard; — the  foice  remaining  on 
duty  being  fourteen  persons.  Their  plan  was  to  have  a 
general  rising  in  all  the  shops  at  a  given  signal.      The  sig- 


132  HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 

nal  was  g-ivcn  in  the  nail  shop,  wlien  the  attack  commenced. 
One  of  the  g-naid  was  knocked  down  and  his  arms  taken 
from  him,  and  another  was  seized  and  mastered.  During 
the  scuffle  which  ensued,  a  reinforcement  arrived  upon  the 
ground.  Two  of  the  insurgents  were  shot  at  and  wounded, 
though  not  mortally,  which  terminated  the  affiay.  There 
was  no  outbreak  in  the  other  shops — probably  the  signal 
was  not  heard. 

On  the  night  precedmg  the  removal  of  the  prisoners  to 
the  new  prison  in  Wethersfield,  one  of  the  convicts,  by  the 
name  of  Starkey,  was  killed  in  attempting  to  make  his 
escape.  The  shaft,  used  for  a  well,  communicated  with  one 
of  the  caverns  about  seventy  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
earth.  The  top  of  this  shaft  was  well,  secured  by  a  hatch, 
whicli  it  was  intended  should  be  always  fastened  down  in 
the  night  season.  On  this  evening,  the  well  was  left  open, 
and,  as  appearances  would  indicate,  by  design.  Starkey 
attempted  to  ascend  b}^  climbing  the  rope  used  for  drawing 
water.  In  making  the  ascent,  the  rope  broke,  by  which 
he  was  precipitated  to  the  bottom,  where  he  was  found 
dead. 

The  convicts,  while  at  this  prison,  generally  enjoyed 
good  health.  With  but  a  single  exception,  which  ^yas 
readily  accounted  for  by  local  causes,  no  contagious  disease 
had  ever  occurred  here.  The  caverns,  as  a  lodging  place, 
were  generally  deemed  conducive  to  health.  Those  afflicted 
with  cutaneous  diseases  were  often  cured.  The  temperature 
was  uniform  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  being,  as  indicated 
by  the  thermometer,  at  about  fifty-two  degrees. 

The  inmates  of  this  ])nson  formed  a  motley  group. 
Amongst  them  might  be  found  rogues  of  high  celebrity — 
the  most  hardened  and  reckless — the  cimning  and  adroit — 
and  often  mechanics  and  artizans  gifted  with  ingenuity  and 
skill  of  a  high  order.  Persons  well  educated,  with  a  large 
class  of  tlie  most  illiterate  and  degraded — negroes  and 
whites — young  and  old — were  all  to  be  found  here  .'is  com- 
mon associates,  and  generally  as  bed-fellows. 

Some  of  the  prisoners  obtained  a  higli  reputation  for  their 


HISTORY    OP    GRANBY.  133 

roguery.  One,  by  the  name  of  Newman,  piiblislied  an  ac- 
count of  liis  long  career  in  crime  and  prison-breaicing  which, 
if  true,  would  entitle  hijn  to  the  highest  rank  among  vil- 
lains. He  was,  at  times,  quite  successful  in  playing  olT  his 
deceptions.  While  in  this  prison,  before  his  pranks  were 
discovered,  he  avoided  labor  by  feigning  sickness.  He  could 
at  any  time  raise  blood,  whicli  his  attendants  supposed  pro- 
ceeded from  his  lungs.  By  feigning  other  synjptoms  of  a 
pulmonary  decline,  he  had  strongly  enlisted  the  sympathy 
of  the  guard,  and  was  exempted  from  labor.  His  object 
was  to  avert  the  vigilance  of  his  keepers,  and  thereby  effect 
his  escape.  Being  foiled  in  this,  he  proceeded  still  further 
and  feigned  fits.  He  contrived  to  manage  these  tricks  so 
well,  that  it  was  some  time  before  the  deception  was  dis- 
covered. Succeeding  in  none  of  his  deceptions  practices, 
he  was,  after  all  his  trouble,  compelled  to  serve  out  the 
term  of  his  imprisonment.  In  another  prison,  by  counter- 
feiting death,  he  came  very  near  effecting  his  escape  ; — at 
least  it  is  so  stated  in  his  memoir. 

Another  convict,  by  name  Parker,  after  his  release  from 
prison,  had  extraordinary  success  in  deceiving  the  weak- 
minded,  by  assuming  the  name  and  identity  of  persons  wlio, 
by  long  absence  from  tlieir  friends,  were  supposed  to  be 
dead.  He  passed,  for  some  time,  as  the  long  lost  son  of  an 
aged  pair;  and,  at  another  time,  imposed  himself  upon  a 
woman  as  her  husband,  who  had  been  absent  many  years. 
He  also  at  times  pretended  to  be  a  clergyman,  and  had 
some  success  in  this  branch  of  his  deceptive  career. 

A  prisoner  by  the  name  of  Corson,  after  his  discharge,  in 
1826,  published  an  account  of  his  exploits,  from  which,  it 
would  appear, that  his  character  for  villainy  was  well  eained, 
and  correctly  bestowed, — and  that  the  safety  of  the  public 
required  n.  permanent  abode  for  him  in  some  strong  prison. 

But, one  of  the  most  desperate  and  dangerous  of  the  gang 
was  a  convict  of  the  name  of  Sloan,  who,  in  1821,  was  sen- 
tenced for  a  long  term  of  years  for  passing  counterfeit  money, 
a  large  amou.nt  of  which  was  also  found  in  his  possession. 

While  in  Hartford  jail,  before  his  commitment  to  Newgate, 
12* 


134  HISTORY    OF    GRANBY. 

he  nearly  effected  liis  escape  by  a  bold  and  daring  plot. 
Indued  with  extraordinary  muscular  power — and  being 
reckless  and  courageous,  yet  cool  and  circumspect — he 
became  one  of  the  most  dangerous  and  troublesome  prison- 
ers at  Newgate.  He  was  the  leader  in  all  insuirections,  and 
was  kept  in  subjection  only  by  loading  him  heavily  with 
irons.  In  attempting  to  make  his  escape,  he  struck  down 
one  of  the  guard,  injuring  him  severely,  for  which  outrage 
he  was  subjected  to  an  additional  term  of  imprisonment. 

The  annals  of  Newgate  furnish  many  incidents  of  an 
interesting  character.  Some  of  them,  depending  on  tradi- 
tion, are  so  intermixed  with  fiction  as  to  become  nearly  val- 
ueless, and  will  soon  pass  into  oblivion.  A  larger  portion, 
resting  on  better  authority,  remain,  and  furnish  a  mass  of 
information  worthy  of  preservation. 

As  a  place  for  criminals,  this  prison  never  fully  answered 
the  purposes  intended  by  the  governnient.  The  guilty 
were  indeed  punished — but  rarely  ever  reformed.  The  free 
intercourse  among  all  classes  of  offenders,  allowed  during 
the  night  season,  was  well  calculated  to  make  all  adepts  in 
roguery,  and  better  fitted  than  ever  for  a  new  career  in  crime, 
when,  at  the  termination  of  imprisonment,  they  should  again 
mix  with  the  world.  No  system,  aiming  at  the  reformation 
of  an  offender,  could  be  worse  than  this.  Under  such  a 
schoolings  reformation  could  hardly  be  expected  ; — it  cer- 
tainly was  never  realized  to  any  considerable  extent.  Few, 
if  any,  left  the  prison  better  men,  or  more  favorably  dispo- 
sed to  regard  the  rights  of  society,  or  obey  its  laws.  As  a 
general  rule,  the  convicts  left  the  prison  more  hardened, 
and  more  disposed  than  ever  to  engage  in  new  criminal 
enterprises,  and  v/ith  a  better  knowledge  of  the  manner  both 
of  committing  offenses,  and  evading  detection. 

The  state  having  erected  a  new  prison  at  Wethersfield, 
which  was  completed  in  September  1827,  all  the  prisoners 
remaining  were  removed  from  Newgate  to  this  prison  on  the 
30th  of  that  month ; — a  few  of  them  having  previously  been 
taken  out  to  work  on  the  new  prison. 

The  persons  appointed  overseers  of  the  prison,  from  its 


HISTORY    OF    GRANBY.  135 

first  establishment,  were, — Erastus  Wolcott,  Josiah  Bissell, 
Jonathan  Humphry,  Asahel  Holcomb,  James  Forward, 
Matthew  Griswold,  Roger  Newbury,  John  Treadwell,  Pliny 
Hillyer,  Samuel  Woodruff,  Martin  Sheldon,  Reuben  Barker, 
Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr.  and  Thomas  K.  Brace. 

Keepers: — John  Viets,*  Peter  Curtiss,  Major  Reuben 
Humphreys,  Col.  Thomas  Sheldon,  Salmon  Clark,  Charles 
Washburn,  Elam  Tuller,  Alexander  H.  Griswold  and 
Andrew  Denison. 


*  Mr.  Viets,  who  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  resigned  in 
1776.  From  this  time,  until  17S2,  the  office  was  held  by  a  number  of  per- 
sons,— the  keeper  being  the  chief  officer  of  the  guard  for  the  time  being. 
Under  the  new  act  of  1790,  the  keepers  were  appointed  by  the  overseers. 
Mr.  Curtiss  was  the  first  one  appointed  after  this  time. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

CANTON. 
Settlement.    Civil  and  Ecclesiastical  History.    17.37 — 1843. 

The  western  part  of  Simsbury,  now  incorporated  into  a 
distinct  township  by  tlie  name  of  Canton,  was  formerly 
called  West  Simsbury,  and  Avas  settled  by  one  or  two  fam- 
ilies as  early  as  1737,  and  within  a  few  years  thereafter  by 
more  than  twenty  other  families,  all  of  which,  with  two 
exceptions,  emigrated  from  the  old  town.  They  located 
themselves  in  the  valley  bordering  on  Cherry's  brook, — on 
the  hill,  or  mountain,  easterly  of  this  valley, — and  at  Suf- 
frage. It  is  supposed  that  the  ecclesiastical  quarrel  which, 
at  this  period,  raged  with  so  much  acrimony  in  the  old  par- 
ish, as  before  narrated,  had  some,  if  not  a  preponderating 
influence  in  promoting  the  growth  of  this  settlement  at  its 
commencement.  At  tliis  time,  the  large  tracts  of  land  lying 
between  Weatauge  and  Hop  meadow,  on  the  east,  and 
West  Simsbury  were,  with  few  exceptions,  uninhabited  and 
unimproved. 

The  following  historical  sketches  of  the  first  settlers,  and 
of  their  respective  families,  have  been  obligingly  furnished 
by  Ephraim  Mills  Esq.  of  Canton  ;  to  whom  the  author  is 
also  indebted  for  other  statistical  information  embraced  in 
this  history  of  that  town. 

"  Richard  Case,  removed  from  the  old  parish  to  West  Sims- 
bury in  1737,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  setler,  and  to 
have  erected  the  first  dwelling  house  in  this  portion  of  the  town. 
His  son,  Sylvanus,  has  ever  been  reputed  to  be  the  first  iMiglish 
child  born  within  the  limits  of  West  Simsbury.  He  had  twelve 
children,  ten  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  resided  on  the  Kast 
Hill — the  building  site  is  still  to  be  seen  opposite  the  house  after- 


HISTORY    OF    CANTON.  137 

wards  erected  by  him,  and  which  is  still  standing,  and  is  supposed 
to  be  the  oldest  building  in  Canton,  having  been  erected  in  1747. 

His  descendants  are  numerous  in  Canton,  Granby  and  Bark- 
hamsted. 

There  were  four  brothers  of  the  Barber  family,  who  removed 
from  the  old  parish  in  1738,  (viz.)  Snmvcl^  Thomas  Jonathan  and 

John all  of  whom  purchased  and  settled  on  land  contiguous  to 

each  other,  within  the  limits  of  the  Center  school  district  of 
Canton. 

Dr.  Samuel  Barber  had  fourteen  children,  eleven  sons  and 
three  daughters,  a  1  of  whom  lived  to  adult  years.  He  resided  on 
the  premises  now  occupied  by  his  grandson  Volney  G.  Barber, 
and  died  .January,  1797,  aged  eighty-three.  There  are  some  of 
his  descendants  residing  in  Canton. 

Serjeant  Thomas  Barber  had  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five 
daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  years,  and  nine  of  them  left 
children.  He  died  in  1792.  He  resided  in  the  house  lately  occu- 
pied by  Hosea  Case,  deceased.  Some  of  his  descendants  still 
reside  in  Canton. 

Jonathan  Barber  had  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter :  he  died  in  early  life,  1745,  at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Louis- 
burg.  He  resided  on  land  now  owned  by  Gardner  Mills,  a  little 
south  of  the  house  of  George  L.  Barber.  His  descendants  have 
become  extinct  in  Canton. 

John  Barber  had  six  children,  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  He 
died  1797,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  His  son  Reuben  died  1825, 
and  was  the  first  person  interred  in  the  new  center  burying  ground. 
He  resided  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Treat  Lambert. 

Deacon  Abraham  Case  had  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.  He  reirioved  from  the  old  parish  to  West  Simsbury 
about  1740,  and  died  in  1 800.  He  resided  on  the  East  Hill,  on  the 
premises  lately  owned  by  his  grandson,  Lyman  Case,  deceased. 
But  few  of  his  descendants  reside  in  Canton.  He  was  upwards  of 
eighty  years  of  age. 

Amos  Case,  brother  of  Abraham,  had  nine  children,  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  adult  years.  He  died, 
1798,  aged  eighty-six  years.  He  resided  on  the  East  Hill,  in  the 
house  now  occupied  by  the  heirs  of  Abel  Case  Jun.  He  emigra- 
ted from  the  old  parish  to  West  Simsbury  about  the  year  1740. 

Benjamin  Dyer,  a  schoolmate  of  Dr.  Franklin,  removed  from 
the  city  of  Boston  to  West  Simsbury  about  the  year  1741 .  He  had 
seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  resided  in  the 
house  now  occupied  by  Luther  Higley  Esq.  in  the  south  part  of 
Canton.     Several  of  his  descendants  still  reside  in  Canton. 


138  HISTORY    OF     CANTON. 

Samuel  Humphry  removed  from  the  old  society  to  West  Sims- 
bury,  about  the  year  1741.  He  had  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  who  lived  to  adult  years,  and  who  were  married 
and  left  children.  He  resided  in  Suffrage,  East  school  district, 
near  the  house  of  Oliver  Humphry  Esq. 

Joseph  Mills,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  married  Hannah  Adams f 
SigeA fifteen  years,  and  emigrated  from  Meadow  plain  in  Simsbury, 
to  West  Simsbury,  in  1742  or  43.  He  hd^A  fourteen  children^  ten 
sons  and  four  daughters — all  (f  whom  he  lived  to  see  connected  in 
life,  and  have  children.  He  died  April  1783,  aged  eighty-nine. 
He  resided  on  the  premises  now  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Jairus'^^Burt. 
His  descendants  are  numerous  ;  a  considerable  number  reside  in 
Canton.  The  ancestors  of  the  Mills  family  emigrated  from  York- 
shire, England,  in  the  early  settlement  of  this  country. 

Ezra  Willcox  removed  about  the  year  1740  from  the  old  society 
to  West  Simsbury.  He  had  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters.  He  resided  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  opposite  the 
mouth  of  Cherry's  brook. 

Dudley  Case  was  a  native  of  the  old  parish,  and  brother  of 
Daniel,  Zacheus,  and  Ezekiel.  He  settled  in  West  Simsbury  in 
1742,  and  resided  in  the  building  now  occupied  as  a  public  house 
by  Abram  Hosford.  He  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  left 
children.     He  died  in  1792. 

Oliver  Humphrey  Esq.  the  first  magistrate  in  West  Simsbury, 
was  a  native  of  the  old  parish,  and  settled  in  West  Simsbury  about 
1742.  He  had  eleven  children  who  lived  to  adult  years,  eight  of 
whom  had  children.  He  resided  in  the  house  lately  occupied  by 
William  Stone  Esq.  and  died  1792.  His  widow  died  1821,  aged 
ninety-eight  years. 

Nathaniel  Alford  was  from  the  old  parish,  and  settled  in  West 
Simsbury  1742.  He  had  six  children,  one  son  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom  connected  in  life,  and  left  children.  He  resided  on  the 
East  Hill,  on  land  now  owned  by  Titus  Case,  and  known  by  the 
name  of  the  missionary  lot.     Time  of  his  decease  not  known. 

Lieut.  David  Adams  removed  to  West  Simsbury  from  the  old 

parish,  about  the  year  1743  ; had  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five 

daughters,  two  of  whom  died  in  youth,  and  seven  formed  connec- 
tions in  life  and  left  children.  He  resided  in  the  second  house  now 
standing  north  of  the  north  burying  ground,  west  side  of  the  high- 
way. He  died  1801,  age  not  particularly  known,  but  must  have 
been  upwards  of  eighty. 

Serjeant  Daniel  Case  removed  from  the  old  parish  to  West 
Simsbury,  1743  ; — had  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 
six  of  whom  had  children.  He  resided  on  the  site  where  the 
dwelling  house  of  Calvin  Case  now  stands,  near  the  center  church 
in  Canton.     He  erected  the  first  grist  mill  in  West  Simsbury,  and 


HISTORY    OF    CANTON.  139 

died  1801,  aged    eighty-one  years — his   widow  died    1807,  aged 
eighty-two. 

Capt.  EzEKiEL  Humphry  removed  from  the  old  parish  to  West 
Simsbury  about  the  year  1744  ; — had  ten  children,  five  sons  and 
five  daughters,  who  formed  connections,  and  nine  left  children. 
He  resided  on  the  place  where  the  dwelling  house  of  Dr.  Kasson 
now  stands,  on  what  is  commonly  called  the  parsonage  lot,  Suf- 
frage school  district.  He  died  1795,  supposed  to  be  eighty  or 
upwards. 

Capt.  JosiAH  Case  removed  from  Terry's  plain,  Simsbury,  to 
West  Simsbury,  about  the  year  1743.  He  had  six  children,  two 
sons  and  four  daughters.  He  resided  on  the  premises  now  occupied 
by  his  grandson,  Gen.  Jarvis  Case.  He  died  1789,  age  not  known. 
His  wife  died  1807,  aged  eighty-eight.  He  had  five  children  who 
left  descendants. 

Isaac  Messenger  removed  from  Simsbury,  or  within  the  limits 
of  the  present  town  of  Granby,  to  West  Simsbury,  about  1743  or 
1744.  He  had  thirteen  children,  ten  sons  and  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  formed  connections  and  left  children.  Ke  resided  in  the 
north  part  of  the  Center  school  district,  on  land  now  occupied  by 
his  grandson,  Newell  Messenger.  He  died  1801,  aged  eighty- 
two  years. 

Ensign  Isaac  Tuller  removed  from  the  old  parish,  Simsbury, 
to  West  Simsbury,  1744  or  5.  He  had  eleven  children,  three  sons 
and  eight  daughters  ;  ten  of  whom  connected  in  life  and  had  chil- 
dren. He  resided  on  the  premises  lately  occupied  by  his  son, 
Rufus,  one  mile  south  of  the  center  church.  He  died  in  1806, 
aged  eighty-six.  He  was  the  third  son  of  Sarah  Woodford,  who 
deceased,  1797,  aged  one  hundred  years. 

Capt.  Zacheus  Case  removed  from  the  old  parish  to  West 
Simsbury  about  the  year  1749  ; — had  seven  children,  one  son  and 
six  daughters,  all  of  whom  married  and  had  children.  He  remo- 
ved to  Whitestown,  State  of  New  York,  1792,  and  died  1812. 
He  resided  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Ephraim  Mills. 

Deacon  Hosea  Case  was  a  n^ative  of  Simsbury,  and  removed 
to  West  Simsbury  1752.  He  had  eleven  children,  four  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  nine  of  whom  had  children.  He  resided  on  the 
hill,  half  a  mile  east  of  Isaac  Tuller's,  He  died  1793.  Several  of 
his  descendants  reside  in  Canton. 

Capt.  John  Foot  removed  from  Duncaster,  Simsbury,  1753,  to 
West  Simsbury.  He  had  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  had  children.  He  resided  at  the  intersection  of 
the  roads,  two  miles  north  of  the  center  church.  He  died  1812, 
aged  eighty-two  years. 


140  HISTORY     OF    CANTON. 

Capt.  John  Brown  removed  from  Windsor  to  West  Simsbury, 
1756.  He  had  eleven  children,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all 
of  whom  were  connected  in  life  and  had  children.,  He  died  in 
early  life,  1776,  at  New  York,  in  the  revolutionary  service.  He 
was  of  the  fourth  generation  in  direct  descent  from  Peter  Brown, 
one  of  the  pilgrim  fathers,  who  landed  at  Plymouth  from  the  May- 
flower, December  22d,  1620.  His  Avidow  died  1831,  aged  ninety- 
two  years.  He  resided  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Abiel  Brown  Esq.  in  the  center  school  district. 

Solomon  Humphry,  brother  of  Oliver  Humphry  Esq.  was  a 
native  of  the  old  parish,  and  removed  to  West  Simsbury,  about 
1755.  He  had  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  four 
of  whom  had  children.  He  resided  east  of  the  mountain,  border- 
ing on  the  old  parish. 

These  twenty-five  families  had  two  hundred  and  eighteen  chil- 
dren  one  hundred  and  fifteen  males  and  one  hundred  and  three 

femal-^s  ;  averaging  nearly  nine  to  a  family.  The  number  in  each 
family  who  settled  in  life,  and  had  children,  averaged  nearly 
eight  persons ; — thus  showing  our  ancestors  to  have  been  more 
prolific  than  the  people  of  the  present  day.  Joseph  Mills ^  Richard 
Case,  Samuel  Barber,  and  Isaac  Messenger,  who  resided  not  a 
great  distance  from  each  other,  had  forty  sons  ;  thirty-nine  of 
whom  lived  to  manhood. 

The  first  person  buried  in  the  old  south  burying  ground,  was 
Tryphene  Barber,  wife  of  Samuel  Barber.  Her  monument  bears 
date  1752,  being  the  oldest  monumental  stone  in  Canton.  Pre- 
vious to  this  time,  it  is  supposed  the  dead  were  carried  to  the  old 
parish  for  interment. 

Francis  Bacon,  aged  eighty-four  years,  is  believed  to  be  the  old- 
est person  now  residing  iu  Canton. 

Several  years  previous  to  the  settlement  of  West  Simsbury,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  old  parish  were  in  the  habit  of  coming  out  to 
cultivate  corn,  on  a  rich  alluvial  bottom,  (since  swept  away  by 
floods,)  called  the  Hopyard,  situated  on  the  river  at  the  mouth  of 
Cherry's  brook.  They  built  a  shelter  in  the  side  hill,  near  the 
place  now  occupied  as  the  old  south  burying  ground  ;  some  of  the 
stones  of  the  chimney  still  remain.  While  hoeing  corn,  they  were 
accompanied  by  their  boys  with  guns  at  their  sides,  as  a  protection 
against  the  assaults  of  Indians." 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  ages  of  all  these  patriarchs 
could  not  have  been  given.  Enough,  however,  has  been 
furnished,  in  respect  to  longevity,  to  show  that  the  people 
of  the  present  age  do  not,  as  a  general  rule,  reach  that 
period  of  existence  enjoyed  by  their  ancestors. 

Another  remarkable  fact  disclosed  by  these  sketches  is 


HISTORY    OF    CANTON.  141 

that  nearly  all  of  these  first  settlers  had  large  families — two 
of  them,  fourteen  children  each,  and  eight  of  the  others,  ten 
or  more  each.  But  the  most  striking  fact  is,  that  so  large  a 
proportion  of  the  children  should  have  lived  to  become  heads 
of  families  and  themselves  parents — averaging,  as  before 
stated,  nearly  eight  persons  to  each  original  family  ! 

These  results,  so  far  as  I  am  acquainted,  are  unparalleled, 
(at  least  out  of  Ireland,)  in  the  history  of  population.  And 
they  readily  account  for  the  extraordinary  fact  that  so  small 
a  section  of  the  town  should,  within  the  short  space  of  thir- 
teen years,  become  populous  enough  to  authorise  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  new  ecclesiastical  society. 

About  the  year  1741,  the  people  of  West  Simsbury  began 
to  hold  religious  meetings  on  the  Sabbath,  separate  from  the 
old  parish,  in  private  houses.  From  1747,  to  1749,  ^r  50, 
two  preachers.  Rev.  Adonijah  Bidwell,  and  Rev.  Timothy 
Pitkin,  were  employed  to  preach,  each  for  a  short  time. 
This  section  of  the  town  was  constituted  a  distinct  parish  by 
act  of  Assembly,  May,  1750.*  The  Congregational  church 
was  organized,  it  is  supposed,  about  the  same  time.  The 
same  year,  1750,  Rev.  Evander  Morrison,  who  was  from 
Scotland,  and  had  been  ordained  in  his  native  country  as  an 
evangelist,  was  installed  first  pastor  of  the  church.  For 
some  cause  Mr.  Morrison  was  dismissed  from  his  people, 
about  eleven  months  after  his  installation.  The  next  pastor 
was  Rev.  Gideon  Mills,  who  had  been  previously  settled  in 
the  old  parish.  He  was  installed  1759,  and  continued  pas- 
tor of  the  church  thirteen  years.  The  third  pastor  was  Rev. 
Seth  Sage,  installed  1774,  and  dismissed  1778.  Rev.  Jer- 
emiah Hallock  was  the  fourth  pastor  of  the  church.  He 
was  ordained  Oct.  26,  1785,  and  continued  pastor  till   his 

*  The  society  was  bounded,  "  east  on  the  easternmost  ledge  of  the  west 
mountain," — south  on  Farmington, — west  on  New  Hartford,  the  line  "  to 
run  northerly  on  the  line  dividing  between  the  towns  of  Simsbury  and  New 
Hartford  seven  miles,"  and  thence  "  east,  south-east  to  the  aforesaid  east 
ledge  of  the  west  mountain."  In  May  1762,  the  inhabitants  living  "  at  the 
east  tier  of  lots  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  in  the  town  of  New  Hartford,  and 
adjoining  Simsbury,"  were  annexed  to  this  society. 

13 


142  HISTORY     OF    CANTON. 

death,  in  June  1826,  a  period  of  about  forty-one  years. 
Rev.  Jairus  Burt,  the  present  pastor,  was  ordained  Decern- 
ber  20,  1826.* 

The  first  meeting-house  was  built  in  1763,  and  was  occu- 
pied by  the  society  fifty-one  years — having  been  taken  down 
in  1814.  It  stood  in  the  valley  of  Cherry's  brook,  and  near 
the  center  of  the  society. 

A  new  house,  erected  upon  the  same  spot,  was  dedicated 
January  5,  1815.  An  interesting  sermon,  preached  on  the 
occasion,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hallock,  is  in  print.  The  build- 
ing which  is  fifty-six  by  forty-eight  feet,  surmounted  with  a 
steeple,  is  neat  in  appearance,  and  well  constructed.  It  is 
of  that  class  which  tends  so  n:iuch  to  adorn  and  beautify  our 
New  England  villages. 

A  ^eeting-house  was  built  in  the  north  part  of  the  town 
about  sixty  years  ago,  by  an  independent  associatjoji,  or 
society,  who  applied  to  the  General  Assembly  for  parish 
privileges.  But  the  society  was  never  incorporated,  nor 
was  it  ever  recognized  by  law  as  a  legally  constituted  body. 
During  many  years,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sage,  who  had  been  dis- 
missed from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  other  society,  officia- 
ted as  the  pastor.  After  his  death,  religious  services  ceased 
pretty  much,  and  within  about  three  years  past  the  house 
itself  has  been  taken  down. 

In  1783,  a  number  of  persons  in  the  south  part  of  West 
Simsbury,  seceded  from  the  Congregational  society,  and 
formed  a  church  under  the  name  of  ISeparnthts ; — of  which 
church  the  Rev.  James  Bacon  was  the  next  year  ordained 
pastor,  and  remained  as  such  about  two  years.  In  1785,  a 
schism  took  place  in  the  church  and  society,  which  resulted 
in  the  secession  of  about  one  half  of  the  congregation,  who 
embraced  the  tenets  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  But  it 
does  not  appear  thnt  they  had  regular  meetings,  or  stated 
preaching  among  them  until  1802,  when  elder  Jared  Mills 
commenced  preaching,  and  was  ordained  in  1808. 

*  Communicated  by  Rev.  Mr.  Burt. 


HISTORY    OF    CANTON.  143 

The  Baptist  meeting-house  was  first  erected  in  1807,  on 
the  green,  in  the  village  of  SiidVage  ; — in  1838,  it  was  remo- 
ved to  its  present  site,  when  it  was  enlarged  and  otherwise 
improved,  so  as  to  make  it  a  pleasant  and  commodious  house 
for  worship. 

The  Rev.  Jared  Mills  resigned  his  pastoral  charge  in 
1817,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Pierpont  Brocketl,  who 
was  ordained  in  1819.  In  1824,  Rev.  Stephen  S.  Nelson 
was  ordained,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Isaac  Kimball  in 
1825.  The  present  incumbent,  Rev.  George  B.  Atweil,  was 
ordained  in  1837. 

A  meeting-house  for  a  new  Congregational  society  was 
erected  at  Collinsville  in  1836.  It  is  a  handsome,  well  con- 
structed edifice  and  beautifully  situated  near  the  center  of 
the  village.  The  church  was  formed,  and  the  society  legally 
constituted,  in  1830.  Rev.  Horatio  N.  Brinsmade,  and  Rev. 
C.  C.  Vanarsdalen,  officiated  as  preachers  for  several  years, 
but  neither  of  them  was  ordained  over  the  parish.  In  1839, 
Rev.  Frederick  A.  Barton  was  ordained  here  as  an  evangel- 
ist, and  continued  as  officiating  minister  until  1843.  The 
present  clergyman,  Rev.  Charles  McLean,  was  ordained 
in  1843. 

The  flourishing  village  of  Collinsville  is  situated  on 
both  sides  of  the  Farmington  river,  in  the  south v.'est  part  of 
the  town.  It  owes  its  "  rise  and  progress"  to  an  establish- 
ment for  the  manufacture  of  axes,  commenced  here  upon  a 
large  scale  in  1826,  by  Messrs.  Samuel  W.  Collins,  and 
David  C.  Collins,  who  have  had  charge  of  the  business  ever 
since.  Nature  and  art  combine  to  give  the  place  an  exten- 
sive water  power,  which  is  sv  improved  that  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  article  is  carried  on  here  to  a  greater  extent  than 
at  any  other  establishment  in  the  United  States,  or,  as  is 
believed,  in  the  world. 

The  present  company  was  incorporated  in  1834,  by  the 
name  of  "  Tke  Collins  Manufacluring  Company ^'''^  with  a 
capital  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars,  "  for  the  purpose 
of  manufacturing  edge  tools  in  the  most  advantageous  man-^ 
ner."     About  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  workmen  are 


144 


HISTORY     OF    CANTON. 


at  present  employed,  who  manufacture  daily  from  eight  to 
ten  hundred  axes,  all  finished  in  the  most  perfect  style  of 
workmanship.  The  perfection  of  the  machinery,  aided  by 
the  important  inventions  for  the  saving  of  labor  which  have 
been  made  here, — the  rapidity  with  which  the  article  is 
manufactured,  the  perfection  of  its  workmanship,  and  the 
magiiitude  of  the  operations,  are  such  as  to  place  this  estab- 
lishment high  in  the  rank  of  manufactories,  and  far  beyond 
the  reach  of  ordinary  competition.  At  first,  some  "edge 
tools,"  other  than  axes  were  made,  but  for  many  years  past 
the  company  have  confined  their  business  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  axes  of  all  kinds,  including  hatchets,  though  the 
common  woodman's  ax  is  the  one  which  is  chiefly  made. 

The  village,  in  addition  to  the  church  already  mentioned, 
contains  two  school  houses,  built  at  the  expense  of  the  com- 
pany ;  a  commodious  hall  and  building  where  the  business 
affairs  of  the  company  are  transacted ;  one  public  house  ; 
three  stores  ;  a  postofiice  ;  public  market ;  twenty  dwelling 
houses  ;  and  forty-five  double  tenements  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  workmen  ; — the  whole  tastefully  built,  and  so 
arranged  as  to  make  a  conspicuous  and  beautiful  appear- 
ance. A  bridge,  crossing  the  river  at  this  place,  connects 
the  two  sections  of  the  village. 

Canton  was  incorporated  by  the  General  Assembly  at  the 
May  session  1806.  The  limits  of  the  town  were  fixed  by 
the  same  lines  as  those  that  bounded  the  society  of  West 
Simsbury.  Within  a  few  years  past  however,  a  small  sec- 
tion forming  that  partof  Collinsville  which  lies  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  river,  was  taken  from  Burlington  and  annexed 
to  Canton.  The  dimensions  of  the  town  are  about  eight 
miles  from  north  to  south,  and  about  four  miles  from  east  to 
west.  The  surface  of  the  ground  in  general  is  hilly,  and  in 
some  places  mountainous,  but  in  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  town,  especially  in  the  southern  part,  and  along  the 
valley  of  Cherry's  brook,  there  are  lands  of  a  good  quality. 
The  general  appearance  of  the  town  indicates  that  industry, 
thrift  and  comfort  prevail  among  its  inhabitants. 


HISTORY    OF    CANTON.  145 

The  first  town  clerk  was  James  Humphrey  Esq.  appointed 
in  1806,  who  held  the  office  until  his  death  in  1829.  In 
1838,  the  building  in  which  the  records  were  kept,  was  con- 
sumed by  fire,  and  with  it  all  the  records  of  the  town.  The 
town  which  previously  had  belonged  to  the  Probate  district 
of  Simsbury  was,  in  1841,  constituted  a  district  by  itself. 

There  are  in  the  town  eleven  school  districts  ;  and  in  each 
of  the  villages  of  North  Canton,  Canton  Center,  Suffrage, 
and  Collinsville,  there  is  aselect  school  in  which  the  higher 
branches  of  education  are  taught  during  the  winter  season. 
In  each  of  these  villages  there  is  also  a  post-office. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  1810  was  1,374; — 1820, 
1,322  ;— 1830,  1,437  ;  and  in  1840,  1,736. 

For  lists  of  Judges  of  Probate,  Representatives,  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  and  Town  Clerks,  see  Appendix,  F.  G.  H. 
and  L 

13* 


APPENDIX. 


Appendix  A. 

INDIAN  DEEDS. 

<'  These  present  writing  shows  that  we  Pacatoco  and  Pamotacount  and 
Youngcowet,  Indians  and  owners  of  Massaco,  Friends  to  him  that  burnt  John 
Griffin's  picth  and  tarre — We  doe  hereby  declare  our  unability  to  make  satis- 
faction for  the  said  losses  a.iy  way  but  by  the  giving  up  our  right  in  the  land 
at  Massaco  unto  the  said  John  Griffin;  and  in  regard  the  said  offender  being 
resigned  and  delivered  up  now  to  us,  and  fully  acquitted  for  all  his  miscar- 
riag  to  the  said  John  Griffin.  Wee  the  aforesaid  Indians  do  hereby  promise 
to  come,  at  any  time  or  times  to  Coart  or  Coarts  to  passe  over  all  our  rights 
in  all  our  lands  at  JVIassaco,  only  the  named  Indians  do  reserve  two  acres  of 
land  and  will  themselves  fence  it  in,  and  maintaine  it; — And  what  writing 
John  Griffin  shall  cause  to  be  made,  all  we  the  aforesaid  Indians  do  premiss 
to  confirm  it  by  our  hand  and  sealls  freely  set  thereto,  as  we  have  come  to 
this  present  writting,  this  2Sth  June  1648. 

Witness  hereunto.  The  sign  of  Pacatoco,* 

John  Moses,  The  sign  of  Pamatacount, 

George  Abbet.  The  sign  of  Youngcoout." 

"This  is  to  testify eth  that  I,  John  Griffin,  this  present  December  23,  '01, 
do  fully  and  freely  resign  over  this  deede  within  specified  unto  the  committee 
appoynted  for  to  dispose  the  lands  at  Massaco  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  ye 
plantation  of  Windsor,  as  witness  my  hand  the  day  and  yeare  above  written. 

John  Gkjffin." 
Teste,  Daniel  Clark, 
Walter  Ffyler, 
Josias  Hull. 

"November  3,  1674.  The  towne  of  Simsbury  having  appoynted  a  com- 
mittee to  receive  their  north  bounds  o^  their  town  of  Youngcowit,t  the  said 
Committee  grants  to  said  Youngcowit  liberty,  and  Wesunket,  AUehowe, 
Mathegg,  Aramamett,  and  too  more  of  their  Relations,  to  hunt  -for  Venison 
within  these  Lymitts  during  their  life  time,  which  was  don  upon  the  request 
of  the  said  Youngcowit.     Witness  our  hands. 

John  Griffin, 
Peter  Buell, 
Samuel,  Wilcoxson." 

"  On  the  same  day  the  Indian  went  out  with  John  Griffin  to  designate  the 
north  bounds  of  the  town,  which  was  at  a  pine  tree  at  the  northern  end  of  a 
pond  called  Mallakakess" — presumed  to  be  Southwick  pond. 

*  These  signs  or  marks  are  omitted,  tliore  being  no  type  to  represent  them, 
t  Yoanlcet. 


148  APPENDIX. 

Indian  Deed. — Simsbury,  1680. 

"  Whereas,  our  predecessor  Mannahanoose  did  for  a  long  time  since  devise 
and  wittin^ily  kindle  a  fire  that  consumed  the  estate  of  Sergeant  John  Griffin, 
and  made  over  all  his  right  and  interest  of  land  at  Massacoe  unto  the  said 
John  Griffin  for  due  recompence  of  the  damage  done  ; — and  whereas  our  pred- 
ecessors Younket  and  Pamotaquant  by  a  deed  of  sale  made  over  and  sold 
another  parcel  of  land  adjoining  to  the  aforesaid  Massacoe  and  being  within 
the  bounds  of  the  township  of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  which  they  our 
predecessors  made  sale  of  to  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Massacoe,  alias  Sims- 
bury ; — and  whereas  we  Nessehegen,  Seacett  and  Totoe,  Gentlemen,  with 
Aups,  Manconump,  Nenepaush  Stjua,  Wishewonoes  wife  and  Mamantoes 
Squa,  had  common  right  of  those  the  aforesaid  lands  so  sold  and  disposed  by 
our  predecessors  and  also  having  right  to  some  lands  taken  into  and  being  sit- 
uate within  the  boundaries  stated  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  as  be- 
longing to  the  township  of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  for  avoiding  all  differ- 
ences that  may  hereafter  arise  or  happen  to  be  between  us  the  aforesaid 
Nesehegan,  Seakot,  Totoe,  Aupes,  Manconump,  Nenapaush  Squa,  Wishewo- 
noes wife,  and  Mamantoes  Squa,  and  our  heirs,  and  the  inhabitants  or  propri- 
etors of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  and  tiieir  heirs  or  assigns,  have  granted 
and  made  this  Indenture,  this  twenty-sixth  of  March,  in  tiie  year  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  eighty,  between  Neschegen,  Seakett  and  Totoe,  Gentle- 
men, with  Aupes,  Manconumpe,  Nenepaush  Squa,  Washewonoes  Squa,  and 
Mamontoes  Squa,  and  Major  John  Talcott,  Captain  Benjamin  Newberry, 
Captain  Daniel  Clarke,  Sergeant  John  Griffin,  all  proprietors  within  the 
township  of  Massacoe  alias  Simsbury,  within  the  Colony  of  Connecticut-in 
New  England ; — witnesseth  ; 

That  we  Nesehegan,  Seaket,  Totoe,  Aupes,  Manconump,  Nenepaush 
Squa,  Washowonoes  Squa,  and  Mamantoes  Squa,  being  the  only  rightful 
owners,  successors,  and  surviving  heirs  that  can  make  any  challenge,  claim 
or  demand  upon,  or  of  propriety  in  that  tract  of  land  which  is  circumscribed 
by  boundaries  hereafter  mentioned  being  and  belonging  to  the  township  of 
Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  having  a  common  right  in  that  so  disposed  and 
aliened  by  our  predecessor  Manahonoose  Younket  and  Pamotaquaunt,  and  for 
many  other  good  considerations  and  causes  hereunto  us  moving,  and  for  a  val- 
uable sum  paid  to  us  in  hand  in  full  satisfaction  for  all  our  right  in  the  before 
mentioned  tract,  or  parcel  of  land  lying,  being  w'ithin  the  township  of  Massa- 
coe, alias  Simsbury,  the  receipt  whereof  we  do  acknowledge,  and  do  by  these 
presents  freely,  fully,  clearly,  and  absolutely  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  enfeoff, 
and  confirm  unto  Maj.  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  Capt.  Daniel 
Clarke,  and  Serg.  John  Griffm,  in  the  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  and  proprietors 
of  the  land  belonging  to  the  township  of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  and  their 
heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  all  that  tract  of  land  lying  and  being  situate  on 
Farmington  bounds  southward,  and  from  thence  to  run  ten  large  miles  north- 
erly, and  from  the  bounds  of  Windsor  town  on  the  east,  to  run  ten  large  miles 
westward,  the  tract  of  parcel  of  land  being  ten  miles  square  large. 

To  have  and  to  hold  possess  and  enjoy  all  the  aforesaid  tract  or  parcel  of 
land,  as  it  is  now  bounded,  with  all  the  immunities,  privileges,  meadows,  pas- 
tures, commonage,  timber,  trees,  wood,  underwood,  stones,  quarries,  mines, 
minerals,  br,ooks,  ponds,  rivers,  fishings,  profits,  commodities,  emoluments 
and  appurtenances  whatsoever  is  belonging  thereunto,  unto  Maj.  JohnTalcott, 
Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  Capt,  Daniel  Clarke  and  Serg.  John  Griffin  in  the 
behalf  of  themselves,  and  in  the  behalf  of  the  inhabitijnts  and  proprietors  of 
the  land  belonging  to  the  township  of  Massacoe  alias  Simsbury,  to  them  their 
heirs  and  assigns,  for  their  own  and  only  proper  use,  benefit  and  behoof  for- 
ever. And  we  Nesehegen,  Seaket,  Totoe,  Aupes,  Manconump,  Nenapaush 
Squa,  Wishowonoes  Squa  and  Mamantoes  Squa  do  assure  and  warrant  the 
said  Maj.  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  Capt.  Daniel  Clarke, 
Serg.  John  Griffin  and  the  rest  of  the  proprietors  of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury, 
that  we  have  full  power,  good  right  and  lawful  authority  to  grant  bargain  and 
sell  the  aforesaid  tract  of  land  with  all  the  appurtenances  and  singular  the 
privileges  thereunto  belonging :  And  we  the  said  Nesahegan,  Seaket,  Totoe, 


APPENDIX.  149 

Aupes,  Manconump,  Nenepaush  Squa,  Wishovvonoes  Squa,  and  Mamantoes 
Squa  give  them  the  said  Maj.  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Nevvbevry,  Capt. 
Daniel  Ciarke  and  Serg,Jolin  Griffin,  and  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  and  pro- 
prietors of  the  township  of  Massacoe,  alias.  Simsbury,  full  power  and  authority 
to  record  the  premises  to  themselves,  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever. 
And  we  Nesahegan,  Scaket,  Totoe,  Aupes,  Manconumpe,  Nenepaush  Squa, 
Wishowonoes  Squa  and  Mamantoes  Squa  do  promise,  covenant  to  and  with 
the  said  Major  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  Capt.  Daniel  Clarke 
and  Serg.  John  Griffin  and  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  and  proprietors  of  Mas- 
sacoe, alias  Simsbury,  them,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  shall  and  may  by  force 
and  virtue  of  these  presents  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  hereafter  and 
forever  lawfully  and  peacibly  and  quietly  have,  hold,  use,  occupy,  possess, 
and  enjoy  the  aforesaid  tract  and  parcel  of  land  with  all  its  rights,  members 
immunities  privileges  and  appurtenances,  and  have,  receive  and  take  the  rents, 
issues,  emoluments  and  profits  thereof  to  their  own  and  only  proper  use  and 
behoof  forever,  without  any  lawful  let,  suit,  trouble,  molestation  or  disturb- 
ance whatsoever  from  us  or  any  of  us  the  said  Nesehegan,  Seaket,  Totoe, 
Aupes,  Manconump,  Nenepash  Squa,  Weshewonoes  Squa  and  Mamantoes 
Squa,  our  heirs,  successors  or  assigns,  or  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever, 
from,  by  or  under  us  our  successors  or  assigns,  or  by  our  or  their  act,  means, 
consent,  privity  or  procurement : — And  we  Nesehegan,  Seaket,  Totoe,  Aupes, 
Manconump,  Nenepaush  Squaw,  Wishowonoes  Squaw,  and  Mamantoes 
Squaw,  both  tor  ourselves,  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  shall 
and  do  clear,  and  clearly  acquit,  exhonerate  and  discharge,  or  otherwise  suf- 
ficiently save  harmless  the  said  Maj.  John  Talcott,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry, 
Capt.  Daniel  Clarke,  Serg.  John  Griffin,  and  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  and 
proprietors  of  Massacoe,  alias  Simsbury,  their  associates,  tliemiselves,  their 
heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns  forever  from  all  former  and  other 
grants,  gifts,  bargains,  titles,  troubles,  demands  and  incumbrancies  whatso- 
ever, had,  made,  committed,  suflfered  or  done',  by  us  the  aforesaid  Nesehegan, 
Seaket,  Totoe,  Aupes,  Manconump,  Nenepaush  Squaw,  Wishowonoes  Squaw, 
upon  the  premises. 

And  in  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto,  signed,  sealed,  and  made 
delivery  of  the  premises  aforesaid  in  the  year  IGSO  March  26,  in  the  presence 
of  these  witnesses. 

Further  it  is  agreed  and  determined  that  whereasMamanto  hath  a  parcel  of 
land  containing  by  estimation  about  two  acres  lying  and  being  situate  in 
Weatauge  that  he  the  said  Mamanto  hath  not  sold  his  right  in  that  said  land, 
but  shall  hold  the  same  to  himself,  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  notwith- 
standing any  thing  in  this  deed  contained  to  tlie  contrary  : — And  it  is  further 
always  provided  that  the  aforesaid  Indians  named  in  this  deed  of  sale,  them- 
selves and  their  heirs  shall  have  liberty,  and  may  without  molestation  from 
time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  hereafter  have  free  liberty  to  hunt,  fowl  and 
fish  within  the  bounds  of  Simsbury  alias  Massaco  notwithstanding  any  thing 
in  this  deed  to  the  contrary, — and  hereunto  have  subscribed  and  set  their 
hands  or  marks  the  day  and  year  abovesaid. 

Witnesses  to  the  signing,  sealing^      Nesehegan,  .  his  mark*  and  seal 

and  delivery  of  the  premises         S^eaket,  his  mark  and  seal 

conveyed  in  this  deed —  [      Totoe,  his  mark  and  seal 

Aups,  his  mark  and  seal 

Nenepaush,  Squa,    her  mark  and  seal 
Wishewonoe,  Squa,  her  mark  and  seal 


John  Strickland,  Interpreter 
John  Andrews,  Joseph  Andrews 
Wannoe,  his  mark 


Vecokhepajen  his  mark 
Wehassatuck,  his  mark 
Cupheag  his  mai-k 


Wyamp,  his  mark  )      Mamantoes,  her  mark  and  seal 


Manconump,  his  mark  and^seal 

Waquahcag,  alias  Cherry,  gave  his  full 
and  free  consent  to  this  before  mentioned  deed 
in  all  and  singular  the  premises  thereof,  ratify- 


*  These  Indian  marks  cannot  be  printed. 


150  APPENDIX. 

ing  the  same,  both  for  himself,  heirs,  executors, 
administrators  and  assigns,  as  witness  his  marlc 
and  seal. 
Waquaheag,  alias  Cherry  his  mark  and  seal 

Nesehegan,  Sealiet,  Totoe,  Aups,  Nenepaush  Squaw,  Weshawonoes  Squa%v, 
Mamantoes  Squaw  and  Manconump  personally  appeared  and  acknowledged 
the  beforesaid  instrument  and  deed  of  sale  to  be  their  act  and  deed  this  twenty 
and  seventh  of  March  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty — as  attest, 

John  Talcott  Assis't  of  his  Majesty's 

Colony  in  Connecticut." 
Recorded  in  Book  I.  State  Record  of  Deeds  &c  page  103, 

Per  John  Allyn,  Secretary. 


Appendix  B. 

SIMSBURY  PATENT. 

"Whereas,  the  General  Court  of  Conecticutt  have  formerly  granted  unto 
the  proprietors,  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  all  those  lands,  both  medows  and 
uplands  within  these  abutments;  upon  Farmington  bounds  on  the  south,  and 
to  run  east  and  west  ten  miles,  and  from  the  south  bounds  North,  ten  miles, 
and  abutts  on  the  wilderness  on  the  north,  and  on  the  wilderness  on  the  west, 
and  on  Windsor  Bounds  on  the  east;  The  whole  tract  being  Ten  miles  square, 
the  said  lands  and  premises  haVing  ben  by  purchase  or  otherwise  laufuUy 
obteyned  of  Indian  Nativo  proprietors,  oy  the  proprietors,  inhabitants  of  Sims- 
bury  aforesaid.  And  whereas,  the  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  in  the  Colony 
of  Conecticutt  assembled  in  Court,  the  14  of  May  1685.  And  that  they  may 
have  a  patent  for  confirmation  of  the  aforesaid  lands  to  them  so  purchased  and 
granted  to  them  as  aforesaid,  and  which  they  have  stood  seized  and  quietly 
posessed  of  for  some  years  past  without  interruption.  Now,  for  a  more  full 
confirmation  of  the  aforesaid  Tract  of  land,  as  it  is  butted  and  bounded  afore- 
said, unto  the  present  proprietors  of  the  said  township  of  Simsbury:  Know 
ye,  that  the  said  Govenor  and  company,  assembled  in  General  court  according 
to  the  commission,  and  by  ve/tue  of  the  power  granted  to  them  by  our  late 
sovereign  lord,  king  Charles  the  second,  of  blessed  memorie,  in  his  late  patent 
bearing  date  the  three  and  twentyth  day  of  April,  in  the  14th  year  of  his  said 
Majesly's  Reign,  have  given  and  granted,  and  by  these  presents  do  give,  grant 
and  ratify,  and  confirme  unto  Major  John  Tallcot,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newbery, 
ensign  John  Terry,  Mr.  John  Case,  Mr.  Joshua  Holcomb,  Mr.  Samuel  Wil- 
cox, Mr  John  Higley,  Mr.  Thomas  Barber,  and  the  rest  of  the  present  pro- 
prietors of  the  township  of  Simsbury,  and  their  heires  and  assignes  for  ever, 
and  to  each  of  them  in  such  proportion,  as  they  have  already  agreed  upon  for 
the  division  of  the  same,  all  that  afforesaid  Tract  or  parcels  of  land  as  it  is 
butted  and  bounded,  together  with  the  woods,  uplands,  arable  lands,  mead- 
ows, pastures,  ponds,  waters,  rivers.  Islands,  fishings,  Huntings,  fowlings, 
minds,  minerals,  quarries  and  precious  stones,  upon  or  within  the  said  tract 
of  land,  with  all  other  proffits  and  comodities  thereunto  belonging,  or  in  any 
wise  appertaining;  and  do  also  grant  unto  the  aforesaid  named.  Major  John 
Tallcot,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newbury,  Ensign  John  Terry,  Mr.  John  Case,  Mr. 
John  Higley,  Mr.  Joshua  Holcombe,  Mr.  Samuel  Wilcox,  Mr.  Thomas  Bar- 
ber, and  the  rest  of  the  present  proprietors.  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  their 
heires  and  assignes  forever,  that  the  aforesaid  Tract  of  land  shall  be  forever 
hereafter  deemed  reputed,  and  be  an  entire  Township  of  itself.  To  have,  and 
to  hold  the  said  tract  of  land  and  premises,  all  and  singular  their  appurte- 
nances together  with  the  privileges,  imunities,  franchises  herein  given  and 


APPENDIX, 


151 


granted,  to  the  said  Major  John  Tallcot,  Capt.  Benjamen  Newbery,  Ensign 
John  Terry,  Mr.  John  Higley,  Mr.  John  Case,  Mr.  Joshua  Holcombe,  Mr. 
Samuel  Wilcox,  Mr.  Thornas  Barber  and  the  other  present  proprietors,  inhab- 
itants of  Simsbury,  their  heires  and  assignes  forever,  and  to  the  only  proper 
use  and  behoofe  of  the  said  major  John  Tallcot,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newbery, 
ensign  John  Terry,  Mr.  John  Higley,  Mr.  John  Case,  Mr.  Joshua  Holcombe, 
Mr  Samuel  Wilcox,  Mr  Thomas  Barber  and  other  the  present  proprietors, 
inhabitants  of  Simsbury,  their  heires  and  assignes  forever,  according  to  the 
tenure  of  his  Majesty's  manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  county  of  Kent,  in 
the  kingdom  of  England,  in  free  and  comon  soccage,  and  not  in  cappitte,  nor 
by  Knight  service,  they  yielding  or  paying  therefor  to  our  soveraigne  lord  the 
king,  his  heires  and  successors  only,  the  fifth  part  of  all  the  oure  of  gold  and 
silver,  which  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times  hereafter,  shall  be  there  got- 
ten, had  or  obtained,  in  lieu  of  all  rent  services,  duties  and  demands  whatso- 
ever, according  to  Charter.  In  witnesse  whereof,  we  have  caused  the  seal 
of  the  colony  to  be  hereunto  affixed  this  eleventh  day  of  March,  one  thousand 
six  hundred  eighty-five,  six,  and  in  the  second  year  of  the  reigne  of  our 
souveraigne  lord  James  the  Second,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  England,  Ire- 
land, france  and  Scotland,  king,  defender  of  the  faith  &c. 

Robert  Treat,  Governor. 
Per  order  of  the  General  court  of  Connecticut,  signed  per 

John  Allyn,  Secretary." 

This  Patent  was  confirmed  by  act  of  the  General  Court  in  1703. 
Four  of  the  Patentees  belonging  to  Simsbury,  John  Case,  Thomas  Barber, 
Samuel  Wilcox  and  John  Higley,  were  living,  and  executed  a  deed  in  1700. 


Appendix  C. 
AMOUNT  OF  LISTS,— SIMSBURY. 

J\rone  appear  on  the  State  Records  until  1689 — before  this  time  it  is  suppo' 
sed,  the  Colony  taxes  had  been  remitted. 

No.  of  Persons.    Amount  of  Estates.  No.  of  Persons.  Amount  of  Estates. 

1689  70  £3r.06  1704  93  £3282 


1690 

59 

3220 

1705 

76 

3776 

169) 

66 

3348 

1706 

73 

3744 

1692 

no  list  returned. 

1707 

80 

3940 

1693 

78 

3494 

1708 

74 

3910 

1694 

72 

366 1 

1709 

85 

4093 

1695 

56 

2621 

1710 

4191 

1696 

70 

2975 

-  1720 

6379 

1697 

70 

3160 

1730 

9099 

1698 

76 

3032 

1740 

13888 

1699 

90 

3243 

1750 

19466 

1700 

83 

2984 

17§0 

22976 

1701 

67 

3087 

1770 

28700 

1702 

70 

3174 

1780 

37239 

1703 

92 

34  o6 

After  1709,  the  number  of  taxable  persons  are  not  recorded  on  the  State 
Records. 


152 


APPENDIX. 


Appendix  D. 


TOWN  RATES —1694. 


List  of  persons  against  whom  taxes  were  laid. 


John  Case,  Sen. 
Ens.  Barber, 
John  Petibone,  Sen. 
John  Moses, 
Daniel  Adams, 
Samuel  Humphrey, 
John  Case,  Jun. 
Josiah  Owen, 
Sergt.  Wilcoxson, 
Thomas  Griffin, 
Luke  Hill,  Jun. 
Richard  Seger, 
John  Saxton, 
Jonas  Westover, 
Jacob  Bissell, 
Samuel  Bissell,  Sen. 
Robert  Hoskins, 
Luke  Hill,  Sen. 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
Humphry  Prior, 
Peter  Buell, 


Widow  Drake's  Estate, 
Joseph  Strickland, 
John  Slater,  Sen. 
John  Roberts, 
Samuel  Case, 
Richard  Case, 
Ephrain  Griffin, 
J.  Gillett, 

Samuel  Wilcoxson,  Jun. 
Joseph  Skinner, 
Lt.  Higley, 
Ebenezer  Parsons, 
Thomas  Bacon, 
Robert  Weston, 
Wm.  Case, 
John  Williams, 
Widow  Holcomb, 
John  Griffin, 
Stephen  Terry, 
Thomas  Holcomb, 
Andrew  Hillyer, 


John  Pettibone,  Jun. 
John  Mills, 
John  Clark, 
John  Tuller, 
Sergt.  John  Humphrey, 
Elias  Gillett, 
James  Mills, 
Joseph  Kelsey, 
Joseph  Phelps, 
Eleazer  Hill, 
Stephen  Pettibone, 
John  Adams, 
Samuel  Adams, 
Sergt.  Hillyer, 
Mr.  John  Moore, 
Thomas  Griswold, 
Nathaniel  Gillett, 
John  Hayden, 
John  Matson, 
Samuel  Barber, 
John  Slater,  Jun.— 63 


The  largest  taxes  are  against  John  Higley,  and  Ens.  Barber, 
sons  on  the  list  were  non-residents. 


A  few  per- 


MINISTER'S  RATES— 1696. 


Daniel  Adams, 
Samuel  Adams, 
Matthew  Allen, 
Samuel  Allen, 
Ens.  Barber, 
Sergt.  Buell, 
Samuel  Bissell, 
Widow  Bissell, 
Samuel  Barber, 
Thomas  Bacon, 
John  Case,  Sen. 
John  Case,  Jun. 
William  Case, 
Samuel  Case, 
Richard  Case, 
Barth"w  Case, 
Joseph  Case, 
John  Clark, 
John  Griffin, 
Thomas  Griffin, 
Ephraim  Griffin, 
Widow  Gozard, 
William  Gillett, 

The  largest  tax 
Terrv,  and  Jonas 


Thomas  Griswold, 

Lt.  John  Higley, 

Sergt.  John  Humphry, 

Sergt.  Sam'l  Humphry, 

John  Humphry,  Jun. 

Robert  Hoskins, 

Sergt.  Nathan'l  Holcomb 

Nathaniel  Holcomb,  Jun. 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Joshua  Holcomb, 

Eleazer  Hill, 

Luke  Hill, 

John  Hill, 

Andrew  Hilliard, 

Sergt.  James  Hilliard, 

Widow  Holcomb, 

John  Haile, 

Thomas  Kelsey, 

Mr.  Moore, 

John  Moses, 

John  Mills, 

John  Matson, 

John  Pettibone,  Sen. 


John  Pettibone,  Jun. 
Steven  Pettibone, 
Samuel  Pettibone, 
Ebenezer  Parsons, 
Samuel  Parsons, 
William  Parsons, 
,  John  Prior, 
Joseph  Phelps, 
John  Roberts, 
Christopher  Roberts, 
Jos.  Strickland, 
John  Slater,  Sen. 
John  Slater,  Jun. 
Richard  Seger, 
John  Saxton, 
Stephen  Terry, 
John  Tuller, 
Sergt.  Wilcoxson, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
William  Wilcoxson, 
Jonas  Westover, 
John  Williams.— 68 


is  against  J.  Higley,— next  highest,  Ens.  Barber,  Stephen 
Westover. 


APPENDIX. 


153 


MINISTER'S  RATES— 1701. 


Daniel  Adams, 
Joseph  Alford, 
Samuel  Adams, 
Lieut.  Barber, 
Peter  Buell, 
S.  Barber, 
Thomas  Barber, 
John  Barber, 
David  Buttolph, 
Thomas  Bacon, 
Bissell's  land, 
J.  Case,  Sen. 
J.  Case,  Jun. 
S.  Case, 
R.  Case, 
Barth'w  Case, 
Widow  Case, 
J.  Cornish, 
J.  Cook, 
Ben.  Dibble, 
J.  Eno, 
S.  Evans, 
J.  Griffin, 
Thomas  Griffin, 


Ephraim  Griffin, 
Nathaniel  Griffin, 
Nathaniel  Gozard, 
William  Gillett, 
Thomas  Griswold, 
Capt.  Higley, 
Sergt.  Billiard, 
Jonathan  Higley, 
Ens.  Humphry, 
John  Humphry, 
Thomas  Humphry, 
Thomas  Holcomb, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
Jonathan  Holcomb, 
R.  Hoskins, 
Jona.  Holcomb, 
Luke  Hill, 
John  Hill, 
George  Hayes, 
Andrew  Hilliard, 
Ed.  Moore, 
J.  Moses, 
J.  Matson, 


Simon  Mills, 

J.  Pettibone,  Sen. 

J.  Pettibone,  Jun. 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Stephen  Pettibone, 

S.  Pettibone, 

Wm.  Parsons, 

Andrew  Robe, 

Jacob  Reed, 

John  Roberts, 

Peter  Rice, 

Jos.  Strickland, 

J.  Saxton, 

John  Slater,  Sen. 

J.  Slater,  Jun. 

S.  Slater, 

Stephen  Terry, 

John  Tuller, 

S.  Terry, 

Serat-  Willcocks, 

S.  Willcocks,  Jun. 

Wm.  Willcocks, 

Jona.  Westover, — 70 


NAMES  OF  FREEMEN— Stmsbury. 
Copied  from  the  Town  Records — Date  not  given. 


John  Higley,  Sen. 
Lieut.  Thomas  Barber, 
John  Pettibone  Sen. 
Sam'l  Wilcoxson,  Sen. 
Nathan'l  Holcomb,  Sen. 
Sergt.  James  Hilliard, 
Sergt.  Buell, 
Sergt.  Daniel  Adams, 
John  Moses,  Sen. 
James  Cornish, 
Lt.  Samuel  Humphrys. 
Joseph  Phelps, 
David  Buttolph, 
Samuel  Wilcockson, 
Jolin  Case, 
John  Saxton, 
John  Gritiin, 
Thomas  Gritiin, 
William  Gillette, 
Wm.  Wilcoxson, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb,  Jun. 
'  John  Matson, 
John  Pettibone  Jun. 
Samuel  Pettibone, 


Stephen  Pettibone, 
Samuel  Case, 
Barth'w  Case, 
Benjamin  Dibble, 
Nathan  Gozard, 
Jonathan  Holcomb, 
Thomas  Barber, 
Robert  Hoskin, 
John  Hill, 
John  Slater,  Sen. 
John  Slater,  Jun. 
John  Humphrys, 
George  Hay^e, 
Joshua  Holcomb, 
Joseph  Case, 
Richard  Case, 
Andrew  Robe, 
John  Roberts, 
Thomas  Holcomb, 
John  Tuller, 
Samuel  Adams,  Sen. 
John  Cooke, 
Jonas  Westover, 
John  Mcses,  Jun. 

14 


Samuel  Terry, 
John  Terry, 
Joseph  Wilcockson, 
Joseph  Segur, 
Cornelius  Gillett. 

These  entered  Oct.  1717. 
Mr.  Tim'y  Woodbridge. 
Sam'l  Humphry, 
Samuel  Bemant, 
Samuel  Griswold, 
Benjamin  Adams, 
Samuel  Euell, 
John  Higley, 
Daniel  Hays, 
Elias  Slater, 
Simon  Mills, 
James  Cornish,  Jun. 
William  Eno, 
Joseph  Adams, 
Sam'l  Humphrys(Justice) 
Joseph  Cornish, 
Samuel  Slater, 
William  Rice. 


154  APPENDIX. 

Appendix  E. 

The  following  offices  have  been  held  by  gentlemen  born  within  the  ancient 
limits  of  Simsbury,  now  including  the  towns  of  Simsbury,  Granby  and 
Canton  : — 

Governor  of  this  State,* 

Secretary  of  the  United  States  Treasury,! 

Comptroller  of  United  States  Treasurer, 

Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  New  York,{ 

Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  New  York, 

Attorney  General  of  New  York, 

United  States  District  Attorney,  Michigan, 

Bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church, § 

Two  Presidents  of  Colleges, 

Six  Members  of  Congress, 

Secretary  of  this  State, 

Comptroller  of  Treasury,  this  State, 

President  of  a  State  Senate, 

Thiee  Speakers  of  Houses  of  Representatives, 

Presiding  Circuit  Judge  in  Ohio, 

Two  Chief  Judges  of  County  Courts, 

Five  Associate  Judges  of     do. 

Adjutant  General  of  Militia, 

Major  General  of  Militia, 

Six  Brigadier  Generals  of  Militia, 

Four  Sheriffs  of  this  County, 

Three  Mayors  of  Cities, 

Three  Senators  of  this  State,  and  three  or  more  of  other  States, 

President  of  a  State  Bank, 

Bank  Commissioner, — and, 

A  large  number  of  Clergymen,  the  number  not  ascertained. 

*  Gov  Roger  Wolcott.  All  histoiical  accounts  of  the  Governor  assign  Windsor  as 
the  place  of  his  nativity.  But  such  is  not  the  fact.  He  was  born  in  Simsbury,  where  his 
father  resided  about  three  years  after  the  birth  of  thi.s  son.  Tlie  late  Governor  Oliver  Wol- 
cott, who  was  his  grandson,  not  only  frequently  confirmed  this  statement,  but  in  3826  visited 
this  town,  and  went  to  the  spot  where  his  grandfather  was  born,  and  in  presence  of  several 
gentlemen  who  accompanied  him,  spoke  of  it  as  being  the  place  of  nativity  of  his  ancestor. 
This  place  is  near  the  north  line  of  the  present  town  of  Simsbury,  on  the  road  leading  from 
Hop  meadow  to  the  Falls. 

Tradition  says  that  the  first  Governor  Trumbull  was  born  at  the  same  place,  and  in  the 
same  house.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  John  Higley  Fsq.  who  became  the  purchaser 
and  occupier  of  the  Wolcott  farm,  and,  as  the  story  goes,  she  gave  birth  to  this  son  while  on 
a  visit  at  her  father's  house.  This  may  be  true,  but  it  is  far  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
the  story  originated  from  the  circumstance  that  the  mother,  instead  of  the  son,  was  born 
here. 

+  Hon.  Walter  Forward,  of  Pittsburgh.  He  was  born  in  F.ast  Granby.  When  about 
fourt'  en  years  of  age,  his  father  removed  into  Ohio.  Young  Forward,  mainly  by  his  own 
unaided  eflhrts,  obtained  a  respectable  education.  He  devoted  his  attenwon  to  legal  studies, 
and  afier  fiis  admission  to  the  bar,  rose  rapidly  to  distinction  in  that  profession.  He  has  been 
Member  of  Congress,  Comptroller,  and  afterwards  Secretary  of  th«  Treasury.  He  is  highly 
distinguished  for  talents,  probity,  and  professional  ability. 

JHoN.  Greenk  C.  Bronson,  of  'Mbany.  He  was  born  at  flop  meadow,  in  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Calvin  Barber  Esq.  After  a  practice  of  a  few  years  at  the  bar  in  the 
County  of  Onrida,  New  Vork,  where  he  attained  a  high  reputation  in  his  profession,  he 
was,  while  yet  a  young  niai>,  appointed  Attorney  General, — afterwards  an  Associate  Justice, 
and  recently  Chief  Justice,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  .^tate.  He  sustains  the  character 
of  an  upright  Judge,  and  able  Jurist.  His  father,  who  was  a  teacher  and  composer  of 
church  music,  removed  his  family  from  Simsbury,  about  forty  years  since,  to  the  State  of 
New  York.       , 

^  The  Ut.  Rkv.  Alexander  Viets  Griswold,  was  born  at  Tariifville.  where  a  sister 
and  other  relatives  of  his  now  reside.  His  niinisterial  labors  have  been  chiefly  performed 
in  the  States  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts.  He  died  suddenly,  about  two  years  since, 
at  Boston,  where  he  then  residcil.  All  accounts  accord  to  him  great  purity  of  life,  meek- 
ness, piety,  and  faithfulness  in  tlie  ministry. 


APPENDIX,  155 

In  this  list,  the  same  person,  in  some  instances,  held  more  than  one  of  the 
offices  here  specified. 

There  are  others  too,  who  have  been  distinguished  for  their  enterprise  and 
wealth.  Among  these,  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Samuel  Forbes,  who  died  some 
years  sines  in  Canaan ;  Anson  G.  Phelps,  Esq.  of  New  York,  distinguished 
alike  for  wealth,  and  liberality  in  the  promotion  of  all  charitable  objects ; 
and  three  or  four  other  enterprising  merchants,  also  of  New  York,  who,  though 
jet  young,  are  reputed  wealthy. 


Appendix  F. 

JUDGES  OF  PROBATE. 

District  of  Simsbury. — [Established  1769.] 

JUDGES. 


Appointed. 

Appointed. 

John  Owen, 

1769 

Elisha  Phelps, 

1821 

Noah  Phelps, 

1783 

Jeffery  0.  Phelps, 

1825 

George  Humphreys, 

1806 

John  0.  Pettibone, 

1826 

Aaron  Austin, 

1814 

Shubael  S.  Hoskins, 

1842 

Solomon  Everest, 

1816 

Dudley  Humphreys, 

1844 

District  of  Granby. — [Established  1807.] 
JUDGES. 


Pliny  Hillyer, 

1807 

Joab  Griffin, 

1818 

Joshua  R.  Jewitt, 

1834 

Phelps  Humphreys, 

1835 

Joel  C.  Holcomb, 

1836 

Appointed. 

Thomas  Holcomb,  1838 

Thomas  G.  Holcomb.  1839 

Joel  C.  Holcomb,  1842 

Truman  Allen,  1844 


District  of  Canton.— [Established  1841.] 

JUDGES. 

Appointed.  Appointed. 

Ephraim  Mills,     •  1841  Ephraim  Mills,  1844 

Luther  Higley,  1843 


156 


APPENDIX. 
Appendix  G. 


LIST 

Of  Representatives  elected  from  the  Town  of  Simsbury  to  the  General 

Assembly. 


1670 


1671 


1672 
1673 


1674 
1675 


MAV  SESSIOIV. 

Joshua  Holcomb, 
John  Case, 
John  Griffin, 
Joshua  Holcomb, 
John  Griffin, 
Simon  Wolcott, 

John  Griffin, 
Simon  Wolcott, 
John  Case, 


OCTOBER  SESSION. 

John  Griffin, 
Michael  Humphrey, 
Simon  Wolcott, 


Simon  Wolcott, 
John  Griffin, 
John  Case, 


From  this  time  until  1687,  no  Representatives  were  elected. 


1687 
1688 
1689 
1690 
1691 

1692 
1693 
1694 

1695 
1696 

1697 
1698 

1699 

1700 

1701 

1702 

1703 

1704 

1705 

1706 

1707 

1708 

1709 

1710 


Peter  Buell, 

Sergt.  Sam'l  Wilcoxson, 

Joshua  Holcomb, 
John  Higley, 
John  Case, 
John  Higley, 
John  Higley, 
John  Higley, 
Samuel  Willcox, 


Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
John  Higley, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
John  Higley, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
John  Higley, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
John  Higley, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
Daniel  Adams, 
Ens.  Samuel  Humphry, 
Sergt.  Nath'l  Holcomfe, 
Daniel  Adams, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Sergt.  Nath'l  Holcomb, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Sergt.  Nath'l  Holcomb, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
James  Cornish, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb 
Joseph  Phelps, 
James  Cornish, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 


Capt.  John  Higley, 

John  Higley, 
Peter  Buell, 

John  Higley, 
John  Higley, 
Samuel  Willcox, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
Peter  Buell, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
John  Higley, 

Daniel  Adams, 


John  Higley, 
Samuel  Wilcoxson, 
Ensign  Samuel  Humphry, 
Sergt.  Daniel  Adams, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
Daniel  Adams, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 

Capt.  John  Higley, 

Capt.  John  Higley, 
Samuel  Cornish, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
Capt.  John  Higley, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
John  Higley, 
Joseph  Phelps, 
Joseph  Phelps, 


■■# 


APPENDIX 

■' 

MAY  SESSION. 

OCTOBER  SESSION. 

nil 

John  Higley, 

James  Cornish, 

Samnel  VV  ilcockson, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

1712 

Samuel  Wilcockson, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

James  Cornish, 

1713 

Josepli  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Joseph  Case, 

1714 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Joseph  Case, 

Joseph   Case, 

1715 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Case, 

John  Pettibone, 

1716 

John  Pettibone, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Case, 

Joseph  Case, 

1717 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Case, 

Joseph  Case, 

171S 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Case, 

Joseph  Case, 

1719 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Samuel  Holcomb, 

Samuel  Humphreys, 

1720 

Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

1721 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Thomas  Holcomb, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

1722 

Richard  Case, 

Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

Samuel  Humphreys, 

Jonathan  Westover, 

1723 

Joseph  Case, 

Samuel  Humphreys, 

Samuel  Humphreys, 

John  Case, 

1724 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Samuel  Humphreys, 

Samuel  Humphreys, 

John  Case, 

1725 

Joseph  Phelps, 
Samtiel  Humphreys, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

1726 

Joseph  Case, 

Jonathan  Westover, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Benjamin  Adams, 

1727 

Benjamin  Adams, 
Samuel  Griswold, 

Joseph  Case, 

1728 

Joseph  Case, 

Joseph  Case, 

Jonathan  Westover, 

John  Higley, 

1729 

James  Hillyer, 
Samuel  Forward, 

1730 

Joseph  Case,                        " 

Jonathan  Westover, 

John  Higley, 

John  Higley, 

1731 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Case, 

Joseph  Case, 

1732 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Phelps, 

Joseph  Case, 

Samuel  Griswold, 

1733 

James  Case, 

Samuel  Pettibone, ," 

John  Humphrey, 

Samuel  Pettibone,  2d. 

1734 

John  Humphrey, 

John  Humphrey, 

Samuel  Pettibone, 

Samuel  Pettibone,  — 

1735 

John  Humphrey, 

John  Humphrey, 

James  Case, 

James  Case, 

1736 

Josejih  Phelps, 
James  Smith, 

John  Humphrey, 

1737 

Joseph  Phelps, 

John  Humphrey, 

Eenajah  Case, 

Benajah  Case,             / 

1738 

John  Humphrey, 

John  Humphrey,     / 

Samuel  Pettibone,— 

James  Case,          / 

1739 

John  Humphrey, 

John  Humphre^ 

James  Case, 

Joseph  Wilco/> 

1740 

James  Case, 

John  HumpAi-ey, 

Joseph  Wilcox, 

Joseph  W.'icox, 

157 


W 


158 


APPENDIX. 


MAY  SESSION. 

1741  John  Humphrey, 
John  Case, 

1742  John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcox, 

1743  John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcoxson, 

174'1         John  Humphrey, 
James  Case,  • 

1745  John  Humphrey, 
James  Case, 

1746  John  Humphrey, 
John  Case 

1747  James  Cornish, 
John  Humphrey, 

1748  Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
James  Case, 

1749  John  Humphrey, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

1750  John  Humphrey, 
Andrew  Robe, 

1751  Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
Andrew  Robe, 

1752  John  Humphrey, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

1753  John  Humphrey, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 

1754  David  Phelps, 
Andrew  Robe, 

1755  James  Case, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1756  Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1757  John  Humphrey, 

1758  Joseph  Wilcockson, 
David  Phelps, 

1759  David  Phelps, 
Jonathan  Pettibone. 

17G0         David  Phelps, 

John  Humphrey, 

1761  Hezekiah  Humphrey 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1762  Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
John  Case, 

1763  Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
John  Case, 

1764  Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 

1765  Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 

1766  Jonathan  Pettibone, 
John  Case, 

^767         Oliver  Humphrey, 

Hezekiah  Humphrey. 
1''^'         John  Owen, 

Hezekiah  Humphrey, 

1769  John  Case, 
*lliver  Humphrey, 

1770  Jovn  Owen, 
John  Humphrey, 


OCTOBER  SESSION. 

John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Case, 
John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcox, 
John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcoxson, 
John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcoxson, 
Michael  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcoxson, 
John  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcoxson, 
James  Case, 
Andrew  Robe, 
John  Humphi'ey, 
James  Case, 
John  Humphrey, 
Andrew  Robe, 
Andrew  Robe, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
John  Humphrey, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
John  Humphrey, 
David  Phelps, 
Andrew  Robe, 
David  Phelps, 
John  Humphrey, 
David  Phelps, 
James  Case, 
David  Phelps,  ^ 

Jonathan  PettiboneJ' 
Joshua  Holcomb, 
John  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Joseph  Wilcockson, 
David  Phelps, 
Michael  Humphrey, 
Joseph  Wilcockson, 
John  Humphrey, 
David  Phelps, 
John  Case, 

Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
John  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
John  Case, 

John  Case, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
John  Owen, 
Oliver  Humphrey, 
John  Owen, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Oliver  Humphrey, 
Joseph  forward, 
Amos  Wilcox,  Jr., 
John  Owen, 
Jonathan  Humphrey, 


APPENDI  X 


159 


MAY    SESSION. 

E771         John  Owen, 

Hezekiah  Humphrey, 

1772  Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
Judah  Holcomb, 

1773  Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Jonathan  Humphrey, 

1774  Judah  Holcomb, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1775  Judah  Holcomb, 
Asahel  Holcomb, 

1776  Judah  Holcomb, 
Benjamin  Farnham, 

1777  Ezekiel  Humphrey, 
Danifel  Humphrey, 

177S         Noah  Phelps, 

Daniel  Humphrey, 

177<J         Ozias  Pettibone, ' 
Noah  Plielps, 

17S0         Peter  Rice, 

Benjamin  Farnham, 

17S1* 

1782  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Elisha  Graham, 

17S3  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Dudley  Pettibone, 

1784  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1785  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 

178G  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Noah  Phelps, 

1787  Noah  Phelps. 

1788  Noah  Phelps, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1789  Noah  Phelps, 
Reuben  Humphrey, 

1790  Noah  Phelps, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1791  Noah  Phelps, 
Reuben  Humphrey, 

1792  Daniel  Humphrev, 
Noah  Phelps, 

1793  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Reuben  Humphrey, 

1794  Noah  Phelps, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 

1795  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1796  Daniel  Humphrey, 
Dudley  Pettibone, 

1797  Noah  Phelps, 
Israel  Mills, 

179S  George  Humphrey, 
Noah  A.  Phelps, 

1799        Amaziah  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone", 


OCTOBER    SESSION. 

John  Owen, 
Samuel  Lawrence, 
Jonathan  Humphrey, 
Judah  Holcomb, 
Hezekiah  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Jonathan  Humphrey, 
Judah  Holcomb, 
Elisha  Graham, 
Samuel  Lawrence, 
Amos  Wilcox, 
Amasa  Mills, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Samuel  Hays, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Amasa  Mills, 
Benjamin  Farnham, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Eliphalet  Curtiss, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Abel  Pettibone, 
Dudley  Pettibone, 

Daniel  Humphrey, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Noah  Phelps, 

Noah  Phelps, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Noah  Plielps, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Noah  Phelps, 
George  Humphrev, 
Noah  Phelps, 
Dudley  Pettibone, 
Noah  Phelps, 
George  Humphrey, 
George  Humphrey, 
Amaziah  Humphrey, 
Daniel  Humphrey, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
George  Humphrey, 
Noah  A.  Phelps," 


*  Names  on  record  obliterated. 


160 


APPENDIX 


MAY    SESSION. 

OCTOBER    SESSION. 

1800        Jonathan  Pettibone, 

Noah  Phelps, 

Amaziel  Humphrey, 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 

1801         Noah  Phelps, 

George  Humphrey, 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 

John  Bestor, 

1802         George  Humphrey, 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 

John  Bestor, 

Noah  A.  Phelps, 

1803         George  Humphrey, 

Daniel  Humphrey, 

William  Mather, 

George  Humphrey, 

"  1804         Jonathan  Pettibone, 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 

Samuel  Barnard, 

Noah  A.  Phelps, 

1805         Amaziah  Humphrey. 

William  Mather, 

James  Humphrey, 

Darius  Moses, 

1806         Noah  A.  Phelps," 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 

Elisha  Case,  2d, 

Shubael  Ht)skins, 

1807         Samuel  Barnard, 

Noah  A.  Phelps, 

Elisha  Phelps, 

Shubael  Hoskins, 

1808         Daniel  Wilcox, 

Samuel  Barnard, 

Noah  A.  Phelps, 

Noah  A.  Phelps. 

1809         Noah  A.  Phelps, 

Noah  A.  Phelps, 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 

William  Mather, 

1810         Jonathan  Pettibone,  Jr 

.J 

Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr., 

Jonathan  Eno,Jr., 

Jonathan  Eno  Jr., 

1811         Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr. 

) 

Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr., 

Jonathan  Eno  Jr., 

Joel  Griswold, 

1812         Campbell  Humphrey, 

Oliver  C.  Phelps, 

George  Cornish, 

Elisha  Phelps, 

1813         George  Cornish, 

Oliver  C.  Phelps, 

CampbsU  Humphrey, 

Joseph  Goodwin, 

1814         Elisha  Phelps, 

Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr., 

Ebenezer  Barnard, 

Ebenezer  Barnard, 

1815         Elisha  Phelps, 

Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr., 

Asaph  TuUer, 

Asaph  Tuller, 

1S16         Elisha  Phelps, 

James  Cornish, 

Daniel  Wilcox, 

Wait  Latimer, 

1817         James  Cornish, 

Elisha  Phelps, 

Zelotes  Phelps, 

Wait  Latimer, 

ISIS         Elisha  Phelps, 

Oliver  C.  Phelps, 

Zelotes  Phelps, 

Asa  Hoskins. 

After  ISIS,  the  October 

Sessions 

icere  discontinued. 

1819         Asa  Hoskins, 

1820 

Jonathan  Pettibone  Jr., 

James  Goodwin, 

Zelotes  Phelps, 

1821         Elisha  Phelps, 

1822 

John  0.  Pettibone, 

Ariel  Mitchelson, 

Hezekiah  Case, 

1823         Oliver  C.  Phelps, 

1824 

Aurora  Case, 

Amos  Tuller, 

Joseph  Pinney, 

1825         (Not  recorded,) 

1826 

Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Dudley  Humphreys, 

1827         Oliver  C.  Phelps, 

1828 

Chauncey   Eno, 

Amos  Tuller, 

John  0.  Pettibone, 

1829         Elisha  Phelps, 

1830 

William  Mather  Jr., 

Obed  HiglevJr., 

Shubael  S.  Hoskins, 

1831         Jeffrey  6.  Phelps, 

1832 

Shubael  S.  Hoskins, 

Abel  Adams, 

Virgil  Pettibone, 

1833         Moses  Ensign, 

1834 

Horace  Belden, 

Everett  Wilcox, 

Salmon  Eno, 

1835         Elisha  Phelps, 

1836 

Ambrose  Adams, 

Obed  Higlev  Jr., 

Shubael  S.  Hoskins, 

1837         Jctii-ey  0.  Phelps, 

1838 

William  Mather  Jr., 

Virgil  Pettibone, 

Lewis  Dickinson, 

♦ 


APPENDIX 


161 


1S39 

Richard  Bacon, 

1840 

Jay  H.  Filley, 

Allen  Pinney, 

Moses  Ensign, 

1841 

Benoni  B.  Bacon, 

1842 

IS43 

Phelps  Barnard, 

1844 

Justin  A.  Bradley, 

Mamre  Case, 

Job  Case. 

LIST  OF   REPRESENTATIVES— GRANBY. 


MAY    SESSIOW. 

1787  Hezekiah  Holcomb,* 

1788  Hezekiah  Holcomb, 

1789  Hezekiah  Holcomb, 

1790  Pliny  Hillyer, 

1791  Ozias  Pettibone, 

1792  Ozias  Pettibone, 

1793  Pliny  Hillyer, 

1794  Hezekiah  Holcomb  Jr. 

1795  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 

1796  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 

1797  Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Ozias  Pettibone, 

1798  Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 

1799  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 

1800  Samuel  Clark, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 

1801  Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Joseph  Cornish, 

1802  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Samuel  Clark, 

1803  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Joseph  Cornish, 

1804  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Sadoce  Wilcox, 

1805  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 

1806  Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Samuel  Clark, 

1807  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 

1808  Sadoce  Wilcox, 
Appleton  Bobbins, 

1809  Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Jesse  Holcomb, 

1810  Sadoce  Wilcox, 
Jesse  Holcomb, 

1811  Jose)5h  Cornish, 
Asa  Havs, 

1812  Sadoce  Wilcox, 
Whitfield  Cowles, 

1813  Appleton  Robbins, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 

1814  James  Dibble, 
James  Forward, 

1815  Pliny  Hillyer, 
Apoilos  G.  Hillyer, 


OCTOBF.R    SESSION. 

Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Ozias  Pettibone, 
Ozias  Pettibone, 
Ozias  Pettibone, 
Ozias  Pettibone, 
Pliny  Fillyer, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
James  Huggins, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Ozias  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Archibald  Kasson, 
Joseph  Cornish, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
Sadoce  Wilcox, 
Seth  Hays, 
Ebenezer  Hickox, 
Chauncey  Pettibone, 
James  Huggins, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Hezekiah  Holcomb, 
Joseph  Cornish, 
Orrin  Lee, 

Ferdinand  Clemmons, 
Appleton  Robbins, 
Appleton  Robbins, 
Orrin  Lee, 
Pliny  Hillyer, 
Joseph  Cornish, 
Appleton  Robbins, 
Joshua  R.  Jewitt, 
Apoilos  G.  Hillyer, 
Orrin  Lee, 
Sadoce  Wilcox, 
Joel  Holcomb, 


*  Until  1795,  the  town  was  allowed  but  one  representative. 


162 


APPENDIX 


MAY  SESSION. 

1816         Joab  Griffin  Jr., 
Joel  Holcomb, 

1517         Benajah  Holcomb  2d., 
Orrin  Lee, 

1818         Sadoce  Wilcox, 
Joseph  Pinney, 

After  ISIS,  the  October 
1819         Orrin  Lee, 

Nahum  Holcomb, 
1821         Henry  Pratt, 

Alpheus  Hayes, 
1823        Alpheus  Hayes, 

Hezekiah  Griswold, 
1825         Elizur  Benjamin, 

James  0.  Pond, 
1827         Daniel  Benjamin, 

David  Latham, 
1829         Levi  Rice, 

Horace  Clark, 
1831         Philetus  Cooley, 

Alexander  H.  Griswold, 
1833         Justus  D.  Wilcox, 

Oliver  Alderman, 
1835         Anson  L.  Holcomb, 

Horace  Clark, 
1837         Thomas  G.  Holcomb, 

Horatio  N.  Case, 
1839         Sereno  Holcomb, 

Elihu  Griswold, 
1841         Ezekiel^Alderman, 

Edmund  Holcomb, 
1843         Eratus  Holcomb, 

Elmore  Clark, 


OCTOBER     SESSION. 

Joab  Griffin  Jr., 
James  Forward, 
Horace  Clark, 
Philetus  Cooley, 
Benajah  Holcomb  2d, 
John  Willey. 

Sessions  were  discontiiiued. 
1820         Joel  Holcomb, 

Benoni  Gillett, 
1822         Appleton  Robbins, 

Daniel  Hayes  Jr., 
1824         Joel  Holcomb, 

Sadoce  Wilcox, 
1826         Alpheus  Hayes, 

Oliver  Alderman, 
1828         Jonathan  Church, 

Charles  T.  Hillyer, 
1830         Abner  Case, 

Charles  T.  Hillyer, 
1S32         Nathaniel  Pratt, 

Alexander  H.  Griswold, 
1834         Nathaniel  Pratt, 

David  Latham, 
1836         Ezekiel  Alderman, 

Joel  C.  Holcomb, 
1838         Thomas  G.  Holcomb, 

Ansel  N.  Holcomb, 
1840        William  Ruick, 

Daniel  C.  Hayes, 
1842         Lyman  Willcox, 

Horatio  N.  Case, 
1844         Stephen  W   Cornwall, 

Charles  Holcomb,  2d. 


LIST  OF  REPRESENTATIVES— CANTON. 


MAY    SESSION. 

OCTOBER    SESSION. 

1806 

George  Humphrey, 

1S07 

Riverius  Bidwell, 

George  Humphrey, 

1808 

Riverius  Bidwell, 

James  Humphrey, 

1809 

Riverius  Bidwell, 

^ 

Ezra  Adams, 

1810 

Solomon  Everest, 

Riverius  Bidwell, 

'  1811 

James  Humphrey, 

George  Humphrey, 

1812 

Frederick  Humphrey, 

James  Humphrey, 

1813 

George  Humphrey, 

James  Humphrey, 

1814 

Jedediah  Wilcox, 

Darius  Moses, 

1815 

James  Humphrey, 

Joseph  Dyer, 

1816 

James  Humphrey, 

Ezra  Adams  Jr., 

1817 

William  Stone, 

James  Humphrey, 

1818 

Darius  Moses, 

William  Stone. 

After  \S\S,  the  October 

Sessions 

were  discontinued. 

1819         Thomas  Bidwell, 

1820 

Ephraim  Mills, 

1821         Al 

vin  Humphrey, 

1822 

James  Humphrey, 

1823        Jasper  Bidwell, 

1824 

Loin  Humphrey, 

1825         Ezra  Adams  Jr., 

1826 

Ephraim  Mills, 

1827         Abiel  Brown. 

1828 

Elisha  Sugden, 

1829         Lorin  Humphrey, 

1S30 

Ezra  Adams  Jr., 

APPENDIX 


163 


1831  William  H.  Hallock,  1832  Ezra  Adams  Jr., 

1833  Theodore  Pettibone,  1834  Samuel  W.  Collins, 

1835  Noah  R.  L.  Bristol,  1836  Lancel  Foote, 

1837  Joseph  Daily,  1838  Giles  Brainard, 

1839  I^phraim  Mills,  1840  Solomon  Hosford, 

1841  William  H.  Hallock,  1842 

1843  Chauncey  Moses,  1844  Thomas  H.  Wells. 


Appeiitdix  H. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE.— SIMSBURY. 

The  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  was  first  instituted  in  this  state  in  1698  ; — • 
anterior  to  that  time,  those  in  commission  of  the  peace  were  styled  Commis- 
sioners. In  1672,  Capt.  Benjamin  Newberry,  of  Windsor,  was  appointed 
Commissioner  for  Windsor  and  Simsbury,  and  was  continued  Commissioner 
for  Simsbury  until  1691,  when  John  Higley  was  appointed.  Mr.  Higley  con- 
tinued in  this  office  until  his  appointment  as  Justice  oi  the  Peace  in  1698. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE.* 


Appointed-  When  last  appointed. 

1698     John  Hi2;ley,t  1712 

1712     Samuel  Humphrey,  1724 

1724  Samuel  Humphrey,  son  of 

John  Humphrey,  or  2d. 

1725  Joseph  Phelps,  1730 
1727     Benjamin  Adams,  1730 

No  justices  appointed  in  1730,  1731, 
1732,  in  consequence,  probably,  of  the 
meeting-house  controversy. 
1733     Joseph  Phelps,  1749 

1735     John  Humphrev,^  1760 

1739     Samuel  Griswold,  1742 

1742    Joseph  Wilcox,  1760 

1755    John  Owen,  1782 

1760     .  udah  Holcomb,  1787 

1760  Hezekiah  Humphrey,  1781 
1760  Jonathan  Pettibone,  1776 
1770     Oliver  Humphrey,  1792 

1776     Asahel  Holcomb,  1804 

1778  Daniel  Humphrey,  1805 

1779  Noah  Plielps,  1797 

1780  Ozias  Pettibone,  1812 
1783     Dudley  Pettibone,  1809 


Appointed.                      When  last  appointed. 

1785 

Lemuel  Roberts, 

1787 

1785 

Elisha  Graham, 

1788 

1789 

Reuben  Humphreys, 

1804 

1791 

Moses  Case, 

1794 

1798 

George  Humphreys, 

1813 

1798 

Ezra  Adams, 

1820 

i798 

Noah  A.  Phelps, 

1801 

1802 

Solomon  Everest, 

1821 

1805 

Calvin  Barber, 

1806 

Campbell  Humphreys, 

1818 

1807 

John  Bestor, 

1819 

1810 

William  Mather, 

1834 

1814 

Timothy  Goodwin, 

1818 

1814 

Benjamin  Ely, 

1817 

1817 

Elisha  Phelps, 

1818 

Asaph  TuUer, 

1819 

James  Goodwin, 

1822 

Joseph  Pinney, 

1822 

John  0.  Pettibone, 

1824 

Alexander  Holcomb, 

1825 

James  Cornish, 

1825 

Frederick  W.  Jewett, 

1826 

Dudley  Humphreys, 

*  The  lists  of  Justices  of  the  Peace,  up  to  1838,  are  compiled  from  the  State  Records,  and 
are  presumed  to  be  correct ;— after  1838  they  are  taken  from  Green's  Rejiister,  and  may  not 
be  entirely  so.  The  termination  of  office  of  those  appointed  after  1818  is  omitted  ;  and  the 
time  of  the  ^rst  apiiointment  only,  of  all  such,  is  inserted; — many  of  this  class,  it  is  wsU 
known,  were  occasionally  left  out  of  office,  and  afterwards  re-instated. 

t  Appointed  of  tlie  Quorum,  or  Associate  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  in  1710. 

i  Appointed  of  the  Quorum  from  1755  to  1760  inclusive. 


164 


APPENDIX. 


Appointed. 

1829    Lewis  Dickinson, 

Zelotes  Phelps, 

Ambrose  Adams, 

William  Mitchelson, 
1831     Moses  Ensign, 

Abel  Adams. 
1834     Aurora  Case, 

Chauncey  Eno, 

Lott  Pinney, 

Dositheus  Humphreys, 

Allen  Pinney, 

Elijah  St.  John, 
183.3     Shubael  S.  Hoskins, 

Whiting  Shepard, 

Guy  R.  Phelps, 

1836  Henry  Ely, 
Everett  Willcox 

1837  Jeffery  0.  Phelps, 
Jay  H.  Filley, 

1838  Richard  Bacon, 


Appointed. 

1838  George  W.  San  ford, 
Mamre  Case, 

1839  Rockwell  Hoskins, 
Benoni  B.  Bacon, 
Norton  Hoskins, 

1840  Ariel  Mitchelson,  Jan. 
Martin  Sexton, 
Julius  Chapman, 
Hezekiah  S.  Case, 

1841  Ashbel  Moses, 

1842  Hector  F.  Phelps, 
Elihu  H.  Case, 
James  W.  Adams, 
Daniel  F.  Olcott, 
Justin  A.  Bradley, 
Giles  Pettibone, 

1S43     Nathan  Moses, 
Phelps  Barnard, 

1844     George  Cornish, 
J.  TurnbuU. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— GRANBY. 
(Incorporated  Oct.  1786.) 


Appointed.  When  last  appointed. 

1787  Asahel  Holcomb,  1804 
Ozias  Pettibone,  1812 

1788  Jndah  Holcomb,  Jun.        1814 

1791  Pliny  Hiliyer,*  1817 

1792  Andrew  Hiliyer,  1817 
Joseph  Forward,                 1797 

1794     Hezekiah  Holcomb  Jun.  1819 
1799    John  Curliss,  1800 

Timothy  Clark, 
1802    Joseph  Cornish,  1819 

1805     Nathaniel  Pratt,  1817 

1807     Caleb  Merriman,  1817 

Asa  Haves,  1818 

1818     JoabGri'lfin, 

Joel  Holcomb, 

James  Dibble, 

Daniel  Benjamin, 
1820    Horace  Clark, 

JaiTiRS  Forward, 

Daniel  B.  Holcomb, 

1825  John  Willev, 

1826  Hiram  R.  Pettibone, 

1827  Alexander  Holcomb, 

1829  Nathaniel  Pratt, 
Joseph  Cornish  Jun. 

1830  ,  Anson  Bates, 

Abner  Case, 

1831  Charles  T.  Hiliyer, 
Daniel  Hayes, 

1832  Oliver  Alderman, 
Jonathan  Church, 
Cullen  Hayes, 
Joshua  Kendall, 


Appointed. 

1834  Philetus  Cooley, 
Joel  Clark, 
Silas  Cone, 
Joshua  R.  Jewett, 

1835  Edmund  Thompscn, 
Grove  Griswold, 
Justus  D.  Willcox, 

1836  Edmund  Holcomb, 
Anson  N.  Holcomb, 

1837  Milo  A.  Holcomb, 

1838  Truman  Allen, 
Stephen  W.  Cornwall, 

1839  Justus  R.  Stevens, 

1840  Anson. Cooley, 
Abram  Holcomb, 
Mourlon  Cornish, 
Lemuel  C.  Holcomb, 
Samuel  Benjamin,  Jun. 

1841  WiUard  Griffin, 
Samurl  Weed, 

1842  Sereiio  Holcomb, 
Edward  Hayes, 
Asa  Higley, 
Ardon  15.  tlolcomb, 
Milo  M.  Owen, 
Horace  Kenriall, 
Daniel  Holcomb, 

1843  Alrnon  Gillett, 
Richard  H.  PJielps, 

1844  John  Vieis, 
Harvey  Alderman, 
Edward  Blakeslee. 


*  Appointed  Associate  Judge  of  tlie  County  Court  in  1793. 


APPENDIX. 
.    JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE— CANTON. 


165 


Appointed.                    When  last  appointed, 

1806 

Ezra  Adams, 

1820 

George  Humphrey, 

1813 

Solomon  Everest, 

1821 

1807 

Riverius  Bidwell, 

1812 

1812 

James  Humphreys, 

1831 

1815 

Jasper  Bid  well, 

1818 

William  Stone, 

1817 

1817 

Jedediah  Wilcox, 

1818 

1818 

Jared  Mills, 

1819 

Benjamin  Weed,  Jun, 

1821 

Jared  Mills,  Jun. 

1822 

Elisha  Case, 

1825 

Decius  Humphreys, 
Luther  Higley, 
Isaac  Mills, 

1827 

William  H.  Hallock, 

1830 

Ephraim  Mills, 
Harvey  Case, 

1831 

Loin  Humphreys, 
Samuel  W.  Collins, 

1832 

Theodore  Pettibone, 

1834 

Sherman  Osborne, 
Henry  Nash, 
Abial  Brown, 
Joseph  Daily, 

1835 

Ausin  N.  Humphreys, 

1836 


Ruggles  Case, 
Daniel  H.  Morgan, 
Elisha  K.  Root, 


Appointed. 

1836    Ansel  Humphreys, 
Noadiah  Case, 
Jesse  L.  Barber, 
Benadom  W.  Casson, 
Solomon  Hosford, 
Lancel  Foote, 
Simeon  Wood, ' 
Thomas  Wells, 
Benjamin  Adams, 
Samuel  Barber, 
John  W.  Hayes, 
Jarvis  Case, 
Israel  W.  Graham, 
Edmund  Case, 
Simeon  Woodruff, 
John  W.  Hager, 
Henry  A.  Shepard, 
Pomeroy  Higley, 
Dwight  Humphrey, 
N.  L.  Peck, 
John  Case, 
Benjamin  Wingate, 
Noah  R.  L.  Bristol, 
ImriL.  Spencer, 
T.  H.  Austin, 
Horatio  N.  Goodwin, 
Upson  B.  Chapin, 
Samuel  V.  Woodbridge. 


1837 

1838 


1640 


1841 


1842 


1843 
1844 


Appendix  I. 


TOWN  CLERKS-SIMSBURY. 

It  is  supposed  that  John  Terry  was  the  first  Town  Clerk,  appointed  in  1670. 
The  records  were  burnt  within  eight  or  ten  years  after  this  lime. 


John  Slater, 
John  Slater,  Jun. 
John  Humphrey, 
Nathaniel  Holcomb, 
John  Humphrey,  Jun. 
John  Owen, 
Benjamin  Farnham, 


Appointed. 
about     1680 
1 


12 
1717 
n20 
1732 
1736 
17S3 


Noah  A.  Phelps, 
Dudley  Pettibone, 
Amaziali  Humphrey, 
Benjamin  Ely, 
Jonathan  Pettibone, 
Moses  Ensign, 


TOWN  CLERKS— GRANBY. 


Judal)  Holcomb,  Jun. 
Asa  Haines, 
Daniel  Hayes,  Jun. 
Hiram  R.  Pettibone, 
Thomas  Holcomb, 


Appointed. 
1736 
1815 
1817 
1825 
1829 

15 


James  Lewis, 
Ardon  B.  Holcomb, 
James  Lewis, 
Ardon  B.  Holcomb, 


Appointed. 
1796 
1800 
1805 
1809 
1818 
1824 


Appointed. 
1832 
1839 
1840 
1841 


166  APPENDIX. 

TOWN  CLERKS-CANTON. 


Appointed. 

Appointed. 

James  Humphrey, 

1806 

Ephraim  Mills, 

1843 

William  H.  Hallock, 

1829 

Lancel  Foote, 

1844 

EXTRACTS 

From  the  Town  and  Society  Records  of  Simsbury. 

"  On  a  training  day,  November  29,  168G,  Peter  Buell  was  chosen  by  the 
Trainband  of  Simsbury  their  Sergant — he  had  twenty-three  votes,  and  so  was 
orderly  proclaimed  by  the  chief  military  officer  sergant  of  the  Trainband  of 
Simsbury." 

"  December  29,  1687 — Voted  by  the  inhabitants  of  Simsbury  to  allow  Peter 
Buell  for  his  Deputyship  and  expenses,  twenty  shillings." 

"  Propounded  to  the  Towne  by  Major  Talcott,  June  27,  1687,  at  a  General 
Towne  melting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Simsbury. 

All  )^ou  that  are  heartily,  and  really  and  affectionately  desirous  to  give  Mr. 
Edward  Tompson  that  is  now  come  up  amongst  you,  to  give  him  an  Invitation 
to  come  here  amongst  you  in  this  plantation  of  Simsbury,  and  to  carry  on  the 
work  of  ye  Ministry  in  this  place,  manifest  it  by  the  lifting  up  of  your  hands. 
The  above  written  was  unanimously  votted  according  as  it  was  propounded 
and  put  to  vote." 

"  Elizabeth  Mills  the  wife  of  James  Mills,  you  being  row  resident  at  your 
son's  John  Matson's,  these  presents  are  to  warrant  you  and  admonish  you  to 
depart  out  of  the  bounds  and  limits  of  the  township  of  Simsbury  forthwith,  as 
you  will  answer  the  contrary,  and  you  may  not  any  longer  reside  here;  and 
now  do  warn  you  to  seek  some  other  place  for  your  residence,  and  pray  you  tak 
notice  of  this  our  warning  who  are  the  townesmen  of  Simsbury.  Dated  March 
3,  1695-6."  Signed  by  the  Selectmen. 

1701  Dec.  17.  "  Whereas  the  Towne  of  Simsbury  being  greatly  damnified 
by  Persons  thrusting  themselves  into  our  towne  which  proves  greatly  to  the 
Damage  of  the  Towne  ;  for  ye  prevention  thereof,  this  towne  do  order  therefore 
for  the  future:  no  Persons  shall  croud  and  thrust  themselves  into  our  Towne 
to  reside  there  above  one  moneth  without  liberty  first  obtained  from  the  said 
towne  or  Townsmen  upon  the  forfeiture  of  twenty  shillings  to  the  Towne." 

In  Dec.  1701,  John  Slater  Sen.  was  employed  as  school  master  for  the  town 
"  to  teach  such  of  said  towne  children  as  are  sent,  to  read,  writ,  and  to  cypher, 
or  to  say  the  rules  of  Arithmatick  as  are  capable  and  designed  by  their  parants 
to  learn  Arithmatick  "  The  school  was  to  be  kept  at  two  places,  the  Plain  and 
Weatague,  three  months  at  each.  The  pay  allowed  him  was  forty  shillings  a 
month.  The  above  quotation  is  made  from  records  kept  by  this  same  school 
master. 

"  Joseph  Trombal,  son  of  Joseph  Trombal  of  Suffleld,  was  married  to  Han- 
nah Higley,  the  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Higley  of  Simsbury,  August  31,  1704." 
The  groom  and  bride  were  the  parents  of  tlie  first  Governor  Trumbull. 

"  Sarah  Slater  first  daughter  of  Elias  and  Sarah  Slater  was  born  febuary  the 
sixth  day  1716-17,  which  was  Wensday,  11  aclok  at  night,  and  baptised  the 
10;h  day, — the  16  day  thare  apeared  an  uper  fore  toot,  (tooth,)  the  19th  day  at 
one  of  the  clok  after  noon,  it  came  quite  out." 


APPENDIX.  167 

For  many  years  the  town  allowed  a  bounty  for  killing  -wolves  of  fifteen 
shillinirs  a  head.  The  first  item  in  the  first  book  of  the  town  records  relates  to 
this  subject. 

"  On  the  14th  of  January  1718,  two  men  Ephraim  Buell  and  John  Barber  his 
son  in  law,  went  to  the  west  mountain  to  hunt  horses,  where  they  perished. 
The  snow  was  deep,  and  the  weather  extremely  cold  and  stormy.  Their  bodies 
were  found  and  brought  back  on  the  17th  of  January," 

1718.  "  The  town  agreed  with  Steven  Pettibone  to  sweep  the  meeting  house 
for  15  shillings,  he  likewise  is  to  dig  the  graves,  also  to  prepare  and  carry  water 
to  the  meeting  house  for  the  baptism  of  children." 

"  1719,  Feb.  28.  The  Town  order  and  agree  that  John  Drak  shall  make 
Coffins  four  our  Towns  people." 

1724-5,  January.  The  town  voted  that  the  funds  remaining  in  the  town 
treasury  after  payment  of  debts,  should  be  laid  out  for  the  instruction  of  children 
in  reading  and  writing.  This  appears  to  be  the  first  appropriation  from  the 
treasury  of  money  for  this  object. 

1731,  Jan.  1.  The  town  voted  to  divide  into  two  societies,  the  east  side  of 
the  river  to  be  one  society,  and  the  west  side  as  far  north  as  Higley's  settlement 
the  other.  The  meeting  house  for  the  east  society  was  to  be  placed  at  '•  Wads- 
worth's  bush,"  north.of  mile  swamp. 

1741,  Dec.  It  was  voted  that  any  orthodox  minister  who  has  a  right  to 
preach  the  gospel,  may  upon  the  desire  of  any  considerable  number  of  persons, 
with  the  consentof  two  of  the  Society's  Committee,  "  have  liberty  to  preach  in 
the  meeting  house  on  any  day,  not  disturbing  any  other  reUgious  meeting  other- 
wise orderly  established."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  "  popis/i  priests"  were 
excluded  from  this  license. 

17.52.  "  Voted  that  the  committee  now  chosen  for  seaters,  shall  dignify  the 
pews  and  seats  in  this  meeting  house  as  they  think  fit." 

"  April  7,  A.  D.  1757.  Brewster  Higley  the  3d,  son  of  Brewster  Higley  the 
2d,  and  Esther  Owen,  daughter  of  John  Owen' and  Esther  his  wife,  were  joined 
in  marriage  by  John  Humphrey  Esq. 

Their  grandfather's  name  is  Brewster  Higley,  and  grandmother's  name  is 
Esther.  Their  father's  name  is  BrewsterHigley,  and  mother's  name  is  Esther, — 
so  that  there  are  three  generations  from  grandfather,  and  grandmother,  down  to 
grandson  and  granddaughter,  all  of  one  name  for  male,  and  one  name  for 
female; — three  generations  all  living  !  May  the  divine  blessing  rest  on  them 
and  theirs  to  the  latest  posterity  !" 

This  record  is  in  the  hand  writing  of  John  Owen  Esq.  then  Town  Clerk. 

1773.  April.  "  Voted  to  sing  on  the  Lord's  days  in  the  afternoon  according 
to  the  rules  taught  in  the  Singing  Schools  in  this  and  the  neighboring  societies," 

Soon  after  this,  a  teacher  of  music  was  employed.  After  practising  some 
time,  he  appearec]  with  his  scholars  in  church  on  a  Sunday,  and  the  minister 
having  announced  the  psalm,  the  choir,- under  the  instructor's  lead,  started  off 
with  a  tune  much  more  lively  than  the  congregation  had  been  accustomed  to 
hear.  Upon  which,  one  of  the  Deacons,  Brewster  Higley,  took  his  hat  and 
left  the  house, — exclaiming,  as  he  passed  down  the  aisle. — ^^ popery  !  popenj!" 

1781.  "  Voted  that  the  Society  desire  Kless'rs  Theodore  Hillyer,  Elisha 
Cornish  Jun.  and  Job  Case  Jun.  to  assist  in  tuning  the  Psalms  on  Lords 
days  &c." 

1784.  "  Voted  to  allow  the  singers  as  much  of  the  front  seats  around  the 
galleries  as  they  shall  want." 

1786.  "Voted  and  chose  the  two  deacons  of  the  church  to  be  the  persons  to 
publish  the  intention  of  marriage  between  the  parties." 


168  APPENDIX. 

REGISTER, 

Of  Marriages,  Births  and  Deaths,  in  the  families  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Simsbiiry. 

This  Register  is  compiled  chiefly  from  an  old  manuscript  book,  in  the  pos- 
session of  James  Loomis,  Esq.  of  Windsor,  "  made  out  May  18,  1674,"  from  an 
older  book  then  stated  to  be  full  ;  to  wliich  additions  were  made,  during  a  few 
yearSj.after  1074.  These  books  unquestionably  coniain  the  records  kept  of 
these  events,  by  the  several  clergymen  who  officiated  at  Windsor,  during  their 
occurrence.  The  one,  from  which  these  extracts  are  made,  is  in  a  mutilated 
condition,  and  in  many  places,  illegible.  It  does  not  of  course  contain  the  births 
of  children  born  before  their  parents  removed  to  Windsor,  nor,  generally,  after 
they  settled  in  Simsbury. 

In  compiling  this  Register,  a  considerable  amount  of  matter,  in  addition  to 
the  above,  has  been  derived  from  the  state  records,  and  from  the  town  records 
of  Windsor  and  Simsbury.  It  is  not  claimed  that  this  account  is  perfect,  or 
that  it  can  be  made  so.  But  the  design  has  been  to  include  in  it  all  that  has 
been  discovered  relating  to  the  subject  as  connected  with  the  early  inhabitants 
of  Simsbury.  Where  names  or  dates  are  wanting,  they  were  so  in  the  origin- 
als from  which  the  copies  are  made. 

Edward  Adams,  married  Elizabeth  Buckland  May  2.5,  16G0. 

His  daughter  Mary,  born  August  28,  1671. 

Thomas  Barber,  married — —  Oct.  7,  1640.  , 

John,  baptized  July  24,  1642.  Samuel,  baptized  Oct.  1,  1648.     A' 

Thomas,  born  .July  14,  1644.  Mary,  ='         Oct.  12, 1651.  -(^i    j^^J 

Sarah,  baptized  July  19,  1646.  Josiah,  born  Feb.  15,  1653. 

John  Barber,  married  Betsheba September 

Joanna,  born  Aprils,  1667.  John,  born  July  14,  1669. 

Thomas  Barber,  married  Mary  Phelps,  Dec.  13, 

Mary,  born  January  11, .  Sarah,  born  July  12,  1669. 

Saviucl  Z?(i?i(?r,  married  Mary "       » 

Thomas,  born  Oct.  7,  1671.  Samuel,  born  Jan.  26,  1673.  ^ 

He  mariied  a  second  wife,  the  daughter  of  John  Drake.  v. 

His  daughter  Hannah,  born  Oct.  4,  1681.  *^ 

Josiah  Barber,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Loomis.  Nov. 
22,  1677. 
Abigail,  born  March  12,  1678. 

William  Bcell,  married ■ ,  November  18, 1640. 

Samuel,  born  Sept.  2,  1641.  Hepzibah,  born  Dec.  11, 1649. 

Peter,  born  Aug.  19,  1644.  Sarah,  born  May21, 1653. 

Mary,  born  Sept.  3,  1642.  Abigail,  born  Feb.  12, 1655. 

Hannah,  born  Jan.  8,  1646. 

Samuel  Buell,  married  Deborah  Griswold  Nov.  13,  1662. 
His  son  Samuel,  born  July  20,  1663. 
He  settled  in  Killingworth. 

John  Case,  married  Sarah  Spencer,  and  lived  in  Windsor  until  about  1669, 

when  he  settled  in  Simsbury,  at  Weatauge — he  died  Feb.  21.  1704. 

Mary,  born  June  22,  1660.  Saraii,  born  Aug.  14,  1676. 

John,  born  Nov.  5,  16G2.  Elizabeth, 

William,  born  June  5,  1665.  Abigail, 

Samuel,  born  June  1,  1667.  Bartholomew, 

Richard,  born  Aug.  27,  1669.  Joseph. 

Richard  Case  resided  at  East  Hartford,  and  afterwards,  it  is  supposed, 
removed  to  Simsbury,  though  this  is  uncertain.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  ' 
Purchase,  daughter  of  John  Purchase,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford. 
He  died  March  30,  1694.  His  children  were,  Richard,  John,  and  Mary. 
He  "is  supposed  to  have  been  a  brother  of  John  Case.  Mary  married 
Joseph  Phelps. 


APPENDIX.  169 

James  Eno,  married  to  Anna  Bidwell  August  18,  1648. 

Sarah,  born  June  15,  1649.  John,  born  Dec.  2, 1654. 

James,  born  Oct.  30,  1651. 

His  wife  died  Oct.  7,  1679. 
James  Eno  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Samuel  Bissell,  Dec.  26,  1678. 
His  son  James  born  Sept.  23,  1679.     His  wife  died  Oct.  7,  1679,  arid 
he  married  Hester,  widow  of  James  Eggleston,  April  29,  1680. 

William  Filley,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  married  Sept.  2,  1642. 

Samuel,  born  Sept.  24,  1643.  William,  born  March  7,  1665. 

John,  born  Dec.  15,  1615. 

He  had  alsofour  daughters. 
Samuel F^illcy,  married  Ann  Gillet,  Oct.  29,  1663. 
He  had  four  daughters,  and  sons, 
Samuel,  born  Aug.  2, 1670,  who  Samuel,  born  March  7,  1673. 

died  early.  Josiah,  born  Jan.  21, 1G75. 

Jonathan,  born  Nov.  30,  1672.  John,  born  Feb.  10,  iG77. 

Edward  Griswold,  born  in  1607, — married  young. 

Ann,  baptized  June  19,  1642.  Joseph,  baptized  March  12,  1647. 
,          Mary,       "      Oct.  13, 1644,  mar-  Samuel,  baptized  Nov.  18,  1649. 
•^           ried  Timothy  Phelps.  John,  baptized  Aug.  1, 1652,  set- 
Deborah,  baptized  June2R,  1646;  tied  in  Killing  worth, 
married    Samuel   Buell,  1662, 
went  toKillingworth. 

George  Griswold,  married  Mary  Holcomb,  October  3. 
Daniel,  born  Oct.  1,  1656.  John,  born  Sept.  17,  1668. 

Thomas,  born  Sept.  29.  1658.  Benjamin,  born  Aus;.  6,  1671. 

Edward,  born  May  19,  1660.  Deborah,  born  May  30,  1674. 

Mary,  born  Sept.  28,  1663.  Abigail,  born  Oct.'Sl,  1676. 

George,  born  Dec.  3,  1665. 

oil  , 

Joseph  Griswold,  married  Mary  Gaylord,  July  14,  1670. 
Mary,  born  March  16,  1670.  Joseph,  born  Jan.  24,  1677. 

Thomas  Dibble  married . 


Israel,  born  August  29, 16.37.  Miriam,  born©ec.  7,  1645. 

Ebenezer,  born  Sept.  26,  1641.  Thomas,  born  Sept.  3,  1647. 

Hepzibah,  born  Dec.  25,  1642.  Joanna,  born  1650. 

Samuel,  born  March  24,  1643. 

Israel  Dibble,  married  Elizabeth  Hall,  Nov.  28,  1661. 
Josias,  born  May  15,  1667.  George,  born  Jan.  25, 1675. 

Thomas,  born  Sept.  16,  1670.  John,  born  Aug.  8,  1678— died 

Elizabeth,  born  March  27,  1673.  Oct.  6. 

Ebenezer  Dibble,  married  Mary  Wakefield,  Oct.  27,  1663. 
He  was  slain  by  the  Indians  in  1675. 
Mary,  born  Dec.  24,  1664.  John,  born  Feb.  9.  1673. 

Wakefield,  born  Sept.  15,  1667.  Ebenezer,  born  Aug.  18,  1671. 

Martha,  born  March  10,  16ti9— 
dead. 

Samuel  Dibble  married  Hepzibah  Bartlett,  Jan.  21,  1668. 
Abigail,  boin  Jan.  19,  1666,— by  Joannah,  born  Oct.  24, 1672. 

former  wife.  Samuel, born  April  13, 1675, died. 

Flepzibah,  born  Dec.  19,  1669, —  Samuel,  born  May  4,  1677. 

by  this  wife.  Mindwell,  born  Feb.  17,  1680. 

Edward  Chapman,  married  Elizabeth  Fox,  in  England. 

Heniy,  born  here,  July  4,  1663.  Simon,  born  here,  April  30, 1669. 

And  six  daughters,  the  youngest  born  May  24,  1675. 

Henry  Curtiss,  married  Elizabeth  Abel,  May  13,  1645. 

Samuel,  born  April  26. 1619.  Nathaniel,  born  July  15,  1651. 

15* 


170  APPENDIX. 

Samuel  Forward,  married  Anne .     He  died  in  1684, 

She  died  in  1G85. 
Samuel,  born  July  23,  1071.  Joseph,  born  Nov.  10,  1674. 

Jonathan  Gillett. 

Anna,  baptized,  Dec.  29,  1639.  Abigail,  baptized  June  28,  1646. 

Joseph,         "      July  25,  1641.  Jeremiah,       "      Feb.  12,  1647. 

Samuel,       "      Jan.  22,  1642-3.  Josiah,  "      July  14,  1650. 

John,  "      Oct.  5,  1644. 

Jonathan  Gillett,  Jr.  married  Mary  Kelsey,  April  23, 1661.     She  died 
April  18,  1676.     Married  Miriam  Dibble,  Dec.  14,  1676. 
Mary,  born  October  21,  1667.  Ebenezer,  bom  Oct.  26,  1689,— 

Jonathan,  born  Feb,  18,  4670.  dead. 

William,  born  Dec,  4,  1673.  Samuel,  Dec.  17,  1680. 

Thomas,  born  May  31,  1678— dead.     And  two  other  daughters. 

Cornelius  Gillett. 
PrisciUa,  born  Jan.  23,  1659-60.  Daniel,  born  June  30, 1678. 

Cornelius,  born  Dec.  15,  1665.  And  five  other  daughters. 

Joseph  Gillett,  married  Elizabeth  Hawkes  in  1664. 
Joseph,  born  Nov.  2, 1664.  Nathaniel,  born  May  4, 1673. 

Jonathan,  born  August  11, 1669.  And  three  daughters. 

John,  born  June  10,  1671. 

John  Gillett,  married  Mary  Barber,  July  8,  1G69. 
John,  born  Aug.  6,  1673 — died  Samuel,  born  Feb.  16, 1677-8. 

1699.  Nathaniel,  born  Oct.  3,  1680. 

Thomas,  born  July  18, 1676.  Mary,  1682-3. 

Nathan  Gillett,  removed  to  Simsbury — wife  died  1670-1. 
Elizabeth,  born  Oct.  6,  1639.  Nathan,  born  April  17, 1655. 

Elias,  born  July  1,  1649.  And  three  other  daughters. 

Benjamin,  born  Aug.  29, 1653. 

Josiah  Gillett,  married  JoannahTaintor,  June  30,  1676. 
Josiah,  born  Nov.  24,  1678. 

John  Griffin,  married  Anna  Bancraft,  May  13,  1647. 

Hannah,  born  July  4,  1649.  Abigail,  born  Nov.  12.  1660. 

Mary,  born  March  1,  1651.  Mmdwell,  born  Feb.  11,  1662. 

Sarah,  born  Dec.  25,  1654.  Ruth,  born  Jciu.  21,  1665. 

John,  born  Oct.  20,  1656.  Ephraim,  born  May  1,  1668. 

Thomas,  born  Oct.  3,  1658.  Nathaniel,  born  May  31,  1673. 

Thomas  Holcomb,  died  1657.     His  widow,  Elizabeth,  married  James  Eno, 
1658. 
;.-#4.   Abigail,  born  Jan.  6,  163a       v.,  Nathaniel,  born  Nov.  4,  1648. 

Joshua,  born  Sept.  27,  1640.  Deborah,  born  Feb.  15,  1650. 

Sarah,  born  Aug.  14,  1642 — dead.       Jonathan,  born  March  23,  1652 
Benajah,  born  June  23,   1644.  — dead. 

Deborah,  born  Oct.  15,  1646— dead. 

Joshua  Holcomb,  married  Ruth  Stanwood,  June  4,  1GG3. 
Ruth,  born  May  26,  1664.  Sarah,  born  June  23,  1668. 

Thomas,  born  March  30,  1666. 

Benajah  Holcomb,  married  Sarah  Eno,  April  11,  1677. 
Benajah,  born  Aug.  16,  1668.  James,  born  Oct.  13,  1671. 

Nicholas  Hayek,  married ,  July  12,  1646. 

Samuel,  born  May  1,  1647.  David,  born  April  22,  1651. 

Jonathan,  born  June  7,  1649.  Daniel,  born  Aug.  10, 1653,  dead. 

Michael  Humphrey,  married  PrisciUa  Grant,  Oct.  14,  1647. 

John,  born  June  7,  1650.  Sarah,  born  Maicli  6,  1658. 

Mary,  born  Oct.  24,  1653.  Abigail,  born  March  23,  1665. 

Samuel,  born  May  15,  1656.  Hannah,  born  Oct.  21,  1669. 

Martha,  born,  Oct.  5,  1663. 


APPENDIX.  17i 

John  Moses,  married  Mary  Brown,  May  13,  1653. 

John,  born  June  15,  1654.  Sarah,  born  Feb.  2,  1662. 

William,  born  Sept.  I,  1656.  Maro;aret,  born  Dec.  2,  1666. 

Thomas,  born  Jan.  14,  1658.  Mindwell,  born  Dec.  13,  1676. 

Mary,  born  May  13,  1661. 

Timothy  Moses,  born  Feb.  1670.         )  It  is  uncertain  whether  these  are 
Martga  Moses,  born  March  8,  1672.  \      children  of  the  above  or  not. 

John  Owen,  married  Rebecca ,  Oct.  3,  1650. 

Josias,   born  Sept.  8,  1651.  Mary,  born  Dec  5,  1662. 

John,  born  Nov.  5,  1652 — dead.  Benjamin,  born  Sept.  20,  1664 — 

John,  born  April  23, 1654— dead.  dead. 

Nathaniel,  born  Aug,  9,  1656.  Rebecca,  born  March  28,  1666. 

Daniel,  born  March  28,  1658.  Obediah,  born  Dec.  12,  1668. 

Joseph,  born  Oct.  23,  1660.  Isaac,  bom  May  27,  1670. 

Josias  Owen,  married  Mary  Osborne,  Oct.  22,  1674 

Josias,  born  June  6,  1675.  Mary,  born  Feb.  15,  1679. 
Isaac,  born  June  4,  1678. 

Humphrey  Pinney,  married  in  Dorchester,  Mary  Hall. 

Samuel  Pniney,    born   in  Dor-  Sarah,  born  Nov.  19,  1648. 

Chester.  John,  born  Oct.  19,  1651. 

Nathan'l,  born  here,  Dec.  1641.  Abigail,  born  Nov.  26,  1654. 

Mary,  born  June  16,  1644.  Isaac,  born  Feb.  24,  1663. 

Samuel  Pinney,  married  Bissell,  Nov.  17,  1665. 

Mary,  born  June  16,  1667.  Samuel,  born  Nov.  20,  1668. 

Nathaniel  Pinney,  married  Sarah  Phelps,  widow,  July  21,  1670. 
Nathaniel,  born  May  11,  1671.  Sarali,  born  Oct.  11,  1673. 

Thomas  Maskell,  married  Beth i a  Parsons,  May  10,  1660. 

Thomas,  born  March  19, 1661-2  Thomas,  born  Jan.  2,  1665-6. 

—dead.  John,  born  March  19,  1667-8. 

Abigail,  born  Nov.  2,  1663.  Elizabeth,  born  Oct.  19,  1669. 

Simon  Mills,  married  Mary  Buell,  Feb.  23,  1659-50. 

Two  sons  that  died. 
Mary,  born  Dec.  8,  1662.  Abigail,  1672. 

Simon,  born  May  1,  1667.  Elizabeth,  1674. 

John,  born  Jan.  1668-9.  Prudence,  1676. 

Sarah,  born  Sept.  16,  1670.  Simon,  1678. 

Hannah,  1665- 
Deacon  John  Moore's  children  boi-n  in  Windsor. 

Mindwell,  born  July  10,  1643.  John,  born  Dec.  5,  1645. 

Deacon  Moore  died  Sept.  18,  1677. 
John  Moore,  married  Hannah  Goffe,  Sept.  21,  1664. 
John,  born  June  26,  1665.  Edward,  born  March  2,  1674. 

Thomas,  born  July  25,  1667.  Josias  and  Joseph,  born  July  5, 

Samuel,  born  Dec.  24,  1669.  1679. 

Nathaniel,  born  Sept.  20,  1672. 

Andrew  Moore,  married  Sarali  Phelps. 
Sarah,  born  Dec.  1672.  Deborah,  born  May  31,  1677. 

Andrew,  born  Feb.  15,  1675.  Jonathan,  born  Feb.  6,  1680. 

Samuel  Marshall,  married  Mary  Willson,  May  6,  1652. 

Samuel,  born  May  27,  1653.  Thomas,  born  Feb.  18,  1663. 

Lydia,  born  Feb.  18,   1655.  Mary,  born  May  8,   1667. 

Thomas,  born  April  23,  16.59  Eliakim,  born  July  10,  1669. 

— dead.  John,  born  April  10,  1672. 

Daniel,  born  July  24,  1661.  Elizabeth,  born  Sept.  27,  1674. 

Anthony  Hoskin.s,  married  Isabel  Brown,  July  16,  1656. 

Isabel,  born  May  16,  1657.  Robert,  born  June  16,   1(562. 

John,  born  Oct.  14,  1659.  Anthony,  born  March  19,  1664. 


172 


APPENDIX. 


Rebecca,  Dec.  3,  1668— dead.  Thomas,  born  March  14,  1672, 

Grace,  born  July  26,  1666.  Joseph,  born  Feb.  28,  1674. 

Jane,  born  April  30,   1671. 

Thomas  Hoskins,  married  Elizabeth  Birge,  widow,  April  20. — (year  oblit- 
erated. 
John,  born  May  29,  16.54. 
Thomas  Hoskins,  died  April  13,  1666. 
The  Widow  Hoskins  died  Dec.  22,  1675. 
John  Hoskins,  married  Deborah  Denslow,  January  27,  1677. 
His  daughter  Deborah,  born  June  9,  1679. 

John  Hillyer's  family. 

John,  born  June  3,  1637.  Simon,   born  Dec.  25,  1648. — 
Mary,  born  Dec.  2.5,  1639.  His  son  James,  born  January 

Timothy,  born  June  3,  1G42.  2S,  1678. 

James,  born  Aug.    24,    1G44 —  Nathaniel,  born  Jan.  1,  1650. 

married  the  widow  of  Eben-  Sarah,  born  Aug.  25,  1652. 

ezer  Dibble,  June  28,  1677.  Abigail,  born  Aug.  21,  1654. 
Andrew,  born  Nov.  4,  1046. 
John  Hillyer  Sen.  died  July  16,  1655. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Hillyer,  born  Dec.  S,  IGSO. 
Ann,  "  "  May  S,  1677 — dead. 

John  Pettibone,  married  Sarah  Eggleston,  Feb.  16,  1664. 

John,  born  June  15,  1665.  Stephen,  born  Oct.  3, 1669. 

Sarah,  born  Sept.  24, 1667. 

Stephen  Terry,  married  in  Dorchester. 

Mary,  born  here,  Dec.  31, 1635.  Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  4,  1641. 

John,  born  March  6,  1637.  Abigail,  born  Sept.  21, 1646. 

John  Terry,  married  Elizabeth  Wadsworth,  Nov,  27,  1662. 
Elizabeth,  born  Dec.  16,  1064.  Rebecca,  born  Jan.  7,    1671 — 

Stephen,  born  Oct.  6,  1G66.  dead. 

Sarah,  born  Nov.  16,  1668.  Mary,  born  July  19, 1673. 

John,  born  March  22,  1670—  Solomon,  born  March  29,  1675. 

dead.  Rebecca,  born  Feb.  27,  1676 — 

dead. 

John  Higley,  married  Hannah  Drake,  Nov.  9,  1671. 

Jonathan,  born  Feb.  16, 1675.  John,  born  March  16, 1673. 

*Hannah,  born  March  13, 1677.  Rebecca,  born  Aug.  7,  1679. 

William  Phelps  married  in  England.  He  died  July  14,  1672,  and  his 
widow,  Nov,  27, 1675,  both  at  an  advanced  age.  He  had  four  children, 
born  before  he  came  to  Windsor,  viz.  William,  Samuel,  Nathaniel  and 
Joseph,  and  afterwards  two  others,  Timothy,  born  Sept.  1,  1639,  and 
Mary,  March  3,  1644,  who  married  Thomas  Barber. 

William  Phelps,  married  Isabel  Willson,  June  4,  1645.     After  her 

death,  he  married,  Dec.  20,  1676,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Humjihrey 

Piiyiey.     He  left  no  issue. 
Samuel  Phelps,  married  Sarah  Griswold,  Nov.  10,  1650,     He  died 

May  15,  1669. 
Samuel,  baptized  September  5,  1652. 
Timothy,  born  Oct.  1656.     Married  Sarah  Gaylord,  Nov.  IS,  1680;  for 

second  wife,  Sarah  Pratt,  Nov.  13,  1690— he  died  1712. 
Sarah,  born  May,  1654 — married  John  Mansfield,  Dec.  13,  1683, 
IVIary,  born  Oct.  1658. 

William,  born  Nov.  J660 — married  Hannah  Hayden,  Jan.  4,  1693. 
John,  born  July  7,  1662 — died  without  issue. 


*  Hannah  was  married  to  Joseph  Trumbull,  Aug.  31,  1704,  and  was  ll»e  mother  of  the 
first  Governor  Trumbull. 


APPENDIX.  173 

Ephraim,  born  Nov.  1,  1663 — married  Mary  Joggers,  May  11,  1691 — 

died  Oct.  30,  1697. 
Abisjail,  born  May  16,  1666. 

Josiah,  born  Dec.  15,  1667— married  Sarah  AVinchell,  April  26, 1690. 
J\''athaniel   Phelps,   married  Elizabeth  Copley,    Sept.    1650.     He 
removed  to  Northampton,  and  died  there. 
Mary,  born  June  21,  1651.  William,  born  June  22,  1657 — 

Nathaniel,  born  April  2, 1653.  born  at  Northampton. 

Abigail,  born  April  5,  1655. 

Timothy  Phelps,  married  Mary  Griswold,  May  19,   1661 — he  died 
,  .'^  in  1719. 

Timothy,  born  Nov.  1,  1663 — married  Martha  Crow  Nov.  4,    16S6 — 

died  Sept.  28,  1689. 
Joseph,*  born  Sept.  27,  1666 — married  Sarah  Hosford  Nov.  18,  1686 — 

died  in  1716. 
William,  born  Feb.  4, 1668.  Sarah,  born  Dec.  27,  1G79 — died 

Cornelius,  born  April  26,  1671.  without  issue. 

Mary,  born  Aug.  14, 1673 — died  Abigail,  born  June  5,  1682. 

"March  23,  1690.  Hannah,  born  Aug.  4,  1684. 

Samuel,  born  Jan.  29,  1675.  Ann,  born  Oct.  2,  1686. 

Nathaniel,  born  Jan.  27, 1677.  Martha,  born  Nov.  12,  1688. 

Joseph  Phelps,  married  Hannali  Newton,  Sept.  20, 1660 — he  died  at 
Simsbury  in  1684. 
Joseph,  born  Aug.  27,  1667.  Sarah,    married   John    Hill,   of 

Hannah,   born  Feb.   2,    1669—  Simsbury. 

died  unmarried.  William,  died  Oct.  8, 1 689,  under 

Timothy,  age. 

Timothy  Phelps  lived  atPoquonock  in  1703 — he  afterwards  removed 
to  Simsbury,  where  he  had  two  daughters,  Rachel,  born  March 
18,  1709,  Mary,  July  7,   1711,  and  Timothy,  who  died  May  27, 
1737,  and  perliaps  other  children. 
Joseph  Phelps,  son  of  the  above,  married  Mary  Collier,  of  Hartford, 
by  whom  he  had, — 
Joseph,  born  Oct.  9.  16S9,  who  settled  at  Turkey  Hills. 
Hannah,  born  Oct.  25,  1693 — married  Samuel  Humphry  Feb.  23, 1710. 
She  died  before  her  father,  leaving  one  child,  Samuel,  born  Oct. 
16,  1710. 
Mary,  born  Oct.  17,  1696 — died  Jan.  9,  1713,  unmarried. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1697.     His  second  wife  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  John 
Case,  whom  he  married  Nov.  9, 1699.    She  died  May  2, 1704.    Their 
children  were, — 
Sarah,  born  Aug.  11,  1700— died  June  14, 1714. 
Damaris,  born  March  5,  1703 — married  John  Mills,  April  7,  1 720. 
His  third  wife  v/as  Mary,  daughter  of  Richard  Case,  by  whom  he  had — 
Elizabeth,  born  April  7,  1709— married  Daniel  Hoskins,  July  23, 1725. 
John,  born  Feb.  14,  1707 — died  Jan.  5,  1713. 
Amos, — married  Sarah  Pettibone,  July  1, 1723. 
David, — married  Abigail  Pettibone,  April  25,  1731. 
He  died  Jan.  20,  1750,  aged  83 — his  widow,  Sept.  10,  1757. 
The  children  of  the  last  above  named  Joseph,  (who  resided  at  Turkey 
Hills)  by  his  first  wife,  Rebecca  North  of  Farmington,  were  Josepli, 
born  Oct.  18,   1716,   and  Hannah,  born  June  7,  1717,  who  married 
Joel  Harmon  of  Suffield.     By  a  second  wife  he  had — 
Elijah,  born  May  11,  1720.  Elizabeth,  born  Nov.  27, 1726. 

Ezekiel,  born  M'arch  8,  1  723.  Abel,  born  May  22,  1730. 

Lydia,  born  Sept.  10,  172S.  Hezekiah,   and  Keziah,  twins, 

Rebecca,  born  Jan.  22,  1.724.  born  Feb.  18,  1732. 

*  This  Joseph  left  children— Joseph,  Daniel,  Kdward,  John,  Abel,  Ichabnd,  Jonathan, 
Mary,  Sarah,  and  Abigail.  He  owned  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Hebron,  where,  it  is 
believed,  his  son  Joseph  settled,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Phelps  families  in  that  town. 


174  APPENDIX. 

The  children  of  Amos,  were  John,  born  Jan.  20,  1724 — Sarah,  Jan.  23, 
1729— Timothy,  April  11, 1738— Dorothy,  Aug.  8, 1734. 

John  Phelps  married  Thanks  Willcox,  June  15, 1741. 

Thanks,  born  Dec.  11,  1742.  Darius,  born  Oct.  15, 1752. 

John,  born  Feb.  5,  1745.  Sarah,  born  Aug.  12,  1754. 

Martha,  born  Aug.  14,  1747.  Jedediah.  born  JVIay  12, 1756. 

Amos,  born  March  31,  1750. 
The  children  of  David,  were — 

David,  born  March  26,  1733.  Ruth,  born  Sept.  15, 1743. 

Elisha,  born  Oct.  17,  1737.  Sarah,  born  Oct.  15,  1745. 

Noah,  born  Jan.  22,  1740.  Susanna,  born  Jan.  4,  1748. 

Abigail,  born  Nov,  5,  1735.  Lois,  born  March  27,  1750. 

Rachel,  born  Dec.  11, 1741. 
He   died  of  the   small  pox,  Dec.  9,  1760 — his  widow  married  deacon 
David  Strong  of  Bolton,  Jan,  1,  1772. 

George  Phelps,  (who,  it  is  supposed,  was  brother  of  the  first  William 
Phelps,)  married  a  daughter  of  Philip  Randall.    She  died  Aug.  29, 1648. 
Isaac,  born  Aug.  26,  1638.         Joseph,  born  June  24, 1647. 
Abraham,  born  Jan.  22,  1642. 
His  second  wife  was  Frances,  widow  of  Thomas  Dewey,  whom  he  mar- 
ried Nov.  30,  1648. 
Jacob,  born  Feb,  7,  1649.  Nathaniel  born  Dec.  9, 1654. 

John,  born  Feb.  15,  1651. 
He  removed  to  Westfield,  and  died  there,  July  9,  1678. 

His  son  Isaac  married  Ann  Gaylord,  May  11,  1662. 

Isaac,  born  Sept.  10,  1666— married  Mary  Maudsley  Dec.  17,  1690— 

lived  in  Westfield. 
Sarah,  born  1760,  and  John  born  in  1673. 
Mraham,  married  Mary  Pinney,   July  6,  1663.      He  resided  it  is 
supposed  in  East  Windsor.     He  died  Jan.  28,  1728,  aged  85, 
and  his  wife  July  2,  1725,  aged  81. 
Abraham,  born  March  6,  1660 — died  in  1732. 
Isaac,  born  Aug.  5,  1673 — died  Jan.  4,  1703. 
Benjamin,  born  Oct.  1,  1683. 

Joseph,  married  Mary  Porter,  June  26,  1673— she  died  Jan.  16, 1682. 
Mary,  born  Jan.  13,  1674.  Sarah,  born  April  4,  1677. 

Joseph,  born  Dec.  30,  1678— married  Abigail  Bissell  Nov.  26,  1702. 

He  married  a  second  wife,  Hester ,  and  died  in  1695. 

Hannah  born  in  1680 — MindwcU,  1682— Hester,  1693 — Benoni,  ]695. 

Sergeant  Samuel  Willcoxson,  (Willcox)  was  an  early  settler.  He  resi- 
ded at  Meadow  plain,  and  died  March  12,  1713.  He  removed  from 
Hartford.  He  left,  it  is  supposed,  three  sons,  Samuel,  William  and 
Joseph.  Samuel  had  Joseph,  born  Aug.  1701,  and  Ephraim,  Feb.  4 
1707,  and  perhaps  other  children. 

William,  married  Elizabeth  Willson,  by  whom  he  had  John,  Wil- 
liam, Amos,  and  Azariah,  born  July  27,  1706.  William  was  a 
deacon  in  the  church,  and  was  living  in  1770,  Amos  married 
Joanna  Hillyer,  Nov.  6,  1725.  His  widow  married  a  Mr.  Bishop, 
and  died  at  about  one  hundred  years  of  age.     Their  children  were, 

Amos,  born  May  15,  1729.  Elijah,  born  Sept.  25,  1743. 

Ruth,  born  Jan.  10, 1733.  Lucy, — married  Ariel  Lawrence. 

Ezekiel,  born  June  10,  1735.  Esther. 

Joanna,  born  May  26,  1740.  James,  born  Feb.  10,  1751. 

Joseph,  had  Joseph,  born  Feb.  9,  1705,  and  perhaps  other  children. 
He  seltled  at  Westover's  plain.  Some  of  his  descendants,  it  is  sup- 
posed, settled  at  Salmon  brook.  Joseph  and  Ephraim  Willcox 
were  taxed  there  in  1734. 


APPENDIX.  175 

James  Cornish  settled  at  Northampton,  and  was  the  first  schoolmaster  in 
that  town.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Westfield,  and,  about  1667,  was  ap- 
pointed Clerk  of  the  courts  in  Hampshire  county,  by  Sir  Edmond  Andross. 
Shortly  afterwards,  when  the  government  of  Massachusetts  was  resumed 
under  the  Charter,  he  was  left  out  of  office,  but  the  court  applauded  his  good 
services,  and  recommended  him  to  public  favor.  It  is  understood  that  he 
afterwards  removed  to  Windsor — whether  he  died  there,  or  in  Simsbury,  is 
not  known.  There  was  a  James  Cornish,  and  Gabriel  Cornish,  in  Windsor, 
in  1676.  James  Cornish,  son,  as  supposed,  of  the  above,  settled  in  Sirnsbui-y 
about  1695.  He  was  taxed  here  in  1699,  and  was  deacon  of  the  church  in 
1715. 

James  Eno,  and  George  Hayes,  were  taxed  in  1700;  and  in  1701,  Benjamin 
Dibble,  David  Buttolph,  Andrew  Robe,  Jacob  Reed  and  Peter  Rice. 

The  name  of  TuUer  does  not  appear  until  about  1690.  The  first  of  the 
name,  John  TuUer,  then  spelt  Tullor,  resided  near  the  south  line  of  the  town 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 

The  family  of  Latimer  became  inhabitants  still  later — they  removed  from 
Wethersfield.  The  first  Isaac  Ensign,  whose  widow  is  now  living,  was  a 
native  of  Hartford  ;  and  the  late  Elijah  St.  John,  it  is  understood,  removed 
from  Fairfield  County.  The  Williston  and  Bestor  families  came  from  Suf- 
field,  and  the  Mather  family  from  Farmington.  Thomas  Bacon  was  taxed 
here  in  1694,  but  he  was  not  among  the  first  settlers.  The  name  was  then 
spelt,  on  the  records,  Backon.  The  Goodwins  were  not  among  the  first  set- 
tlers. They  are  descended  from  William  Goodwin,  of  Hartford,  who  was 
born  1629,  and  died  1G89.  William  was  son  of  Ozias  Goodwin,  who  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford.  The  Westover  family  has  become  extinct  in 
this  town.  The  first  of  the  name,  in  the  town,  was  Jonathan,  who  settled 
here  about  1690.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth  and  considerable  influence.  The 
ancestors  of  the  Grimes  and  Vining  families  removed  here  about  eighty  yeai-s 
ago.     • 

The  Andruss  family  came  here  more  than  one  hundred  years  since.  When 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Butler  Andruss  was  born,  over  seventy  years  since,  she  had 
living  in  the  female  line,  in  regular  succession,  four  ancestors,  all  bearing 
the  same  christian  name — viz. — Mrs.  Joanna  Hillyer  of  Granby  ;  Mrs.  Joanna 
Bishop,  whose  first  husband  was  Amos  Willcox  ;  Mrs.  Joanna  Case,  wife  of 
Job  Case ;  and  Mrs.  Joanna  Case,  wife  of  Israel  Case.  Report  says  they  all 
assembled  to  see  the  infant,  whose  name  was  also  Joanna  ! — thus  making  a 
bevy  representing  five  successive  generations,  all  present  at  the  same  time, 
and  bearing  the  same  name  !  Mrs.  Hillyer,  the  eldest,  was  then  upwards  of 
ninety  years  old.     Of  this  group,  Mrs.  Andruss  is  now  the  only  survivor. 


176  APPENDIX. 


STATISTICS 


CENSUS  OF  CONNECTICUT,  IN  1756. 

Counties.            Whites.        Negroes,  Ind's.  Counties.             Whites.  Negroes.    Ind'.i. 

Hartl'ord,            35,714           854                 Fairfield,         19,849  711 

New  Haven,     17,955          22t)                Windham,       19,669  345 

New  London,  22,015           S29         617  Litchfield,       11,773  ,54 


Total,  126,975       3,019         617 

Whites.  Negroes. 

Hartford,  then  including  East  Hartford  and  Manchester,            2,926  101 

Wethersfield,  then  including  Glastenbury  and  Rockyhill,           2,374  109 

Windsor,  then  including  East  Windsor  and  Bloomfield,              4,170  -50 
Farmington,  then  including  Southington,  Bristol,  Burlington, 

and  part  of  Berlin,                                                     3,-595  112 

The  number  of  'Indians  was  not  correctly  returned.    There  were  some,  at 
this  time,  in  every  County  in  the  State. 


CENSUS  IN  1774. 

% 
Counties.  Whites.       Blacks.  Indians.  Counties.  Whites.  Blacks.  Indians. 

Hartford,  50,679         1,093         122  Fairfield,        28,930         1,153  61 

New  Haven,     25,896  8-54  71  Windham,      27,494  476         1-58 

New  London.  31,.542         1,194         842  Litchfield,      20,845  331'        109 


Total,  191,392         5,101      1,363 


CENSUS  OF  SIMSBURY,  GRANBY,  AND  CANTON,  AT  DIFFERENT 

PERIODS. 

Years.  1756  1774  1782  1790  1800  ISIO  1820  1830  1840 

Simsbury,  2245  3700  4664  2576  29-56  1960  1954  2251  1S95* 

firanby,  2595  2735  2696  3012  2733t  2611 

Canton,  1374  1322  1437  1730 

Total,      2245  3700  4664  5171  5691  6036  6288  6421  6242 
1 

*  This  decrease,  it  is  supposed,  was  occasioned  by  a  partial  cessation  of  wurk  in  the 
carpet  factory. 


t  Occasioned,  in  part,  by  the  removal  of  the  state  prison. 


*»«f;Av:y  BINDING  CO.  K: 


Mcn"^'  *j,  MAsr. 


University  of 
Connecticut 

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